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-7 



BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



OF 



DE KALB COUNTY 



ILLINOIS. 



I i^i^TLTSTF^^x^r e:l:) 



pciipic tlial (al^c i/ii f-rii/r in the noble arIii,\-( nn iits of rcii/otc ai/cos/urs tt /'// ntvcr acliicn 
ai/y/fiii/i; -vor/i/y to Ar /■< n/i ////'( /'k/ \ciili frii/c iy lu u/o/c i;! i/( rat ioi/s." — JSI ACA LI.K\' 



CHICAGO: 

The S. .1. Clarke Publishinc; Company. 

1898. 









"Biography is the only true history." 



T9m= 



u ii.siix. niMr'irifi;^ s \ 
i.otiANsrnin. ixjt. 



PREFACE. 




HE tircatest of English historians, Macaui-ay, and one of the most 
brilliant writers of tiie present century, has said : "The history of a 
country is best told in a record of the lives of its people."' In con- 
fonnit\ with this idea, the Biograpmical Record has been prepared. 
Instead of going to musty records, and taking therefrom dry statistical 
matter that can be appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have 
gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their enterprise 
and industry, brought these counties to a rank second to none among 
those comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life 
struggles. Xo more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent 
public. In this \olume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation 
of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and 
economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages for securing 
an education, luiye become learned men and women, with an inlluence extending throughout 
the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of 
life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have become famous. It tells of those in 
every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and records how that success has usually 
crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very many, who, not seeking the applause of the 
world, have pursueil the ■■ even tenor of their way," content to have it said of them, as Christ 
said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — -'They have done what they could." It 
tells how man_y, in the pride and strength of young manhood, left the plow and the anvil, the 
lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and protession, and at their country's 
call went forth valiantly " to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was 
restored and peace once more reigned in the lanil. In the life of every man and of every 
woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after. 

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from 
the fact that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which 
would otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work, 
and every opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has 
been written ; and the publishers flatter themselves that they give to their readers a work with 
few errors of consequence. In addition to biographical sketches, portraits of a number of 
representative citizens are given. 

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. 
For this the pidjjishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some 
refused to give the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indiff'erent. 
Occasionally some member of the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such 
opposition the support of the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances men 
never could b_' found, though repeated calls were made at their residence or place of business. 



N'ovember, 1808. 



The S. T- Ci-.\uke Pi'isi.ishing Co. 




GEN. DANIEL DUSTIN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



GENERAL DANIEL DUSTIN. —Among 
the many citizens of De Kalb county, 
who have attained distinction in civil and 
mihtary life, is the subject of this memoir, 
who probably was personally known to more 
of the people of the county than any other 
man that ever resided within its borders, 
and whose friends were legion. He was 
born in the town of Topsham, Orange coun- 
ty, Vermont, October 5, 1820, and was the 
son of John Knight and Sallie (Thompson) 
Dustin, the former a native of Atkinson, 
New Hampshire born January 24, 1784, 
and the latter born in Newbury, Ver- 
mont, January 15, 1788. They were the 
parents of thirteen children, eight of whom 
lived to maturity and were married. John 
K. Dustin, who was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, died in Topsham, Vermont, in August, 
1858. His wife preceded him many years, 
dying December 14, 1829, also at Topsham, 
Vermont. 

The Dustin family is of Scotch and 
English descent, our subject tracing his an- 
cestry back to Thomas and Hannah Dustin, 
of Haverhill, Massachusetts, who were 
married in 1677. She was the daughter of 
Michael and Hannah (Webster) Emerson, 
and was born at Haverhill, Massachusetts, 
December 23, 1657. Hannah Dustin was 
the heroine of an exploit famous in the 
early annals of New England. She was 
taken prisoner by the Indians, in the attack 



on Haverhill, March 15, 1698. Her nurse 
and an infant one year old were also taken, 
but the child was soon afterwards killed. 
She was taken to an island in the Merrimac, 
afterwards known as Dustin's Island, and 
with her were twelve Indians. One night, 
with the aid of the nurse and a white cap- 
tive boy, she killed all the Indians in their 
sleep, except a squaw and a boy who 
escaped. She then returned to Haverhill 
with their scalps. 

The paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject was Nathaniel Dustin, who was born 
September 8, 1756, and who died March 3, 
1815. He married Judith Knight, who was 
born May 2, 1756, and who died June 3, 
1842. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in his native town and county, and 
after attending the subscription schools, was 
a student in the famous old academy at 
Newbury, Vermont. After studying medi- 
cine at Topsham and Corinth, he attended 
three full courses of medical lectures at 
Dartsmouth College, Hanover, New Hamp- 
shire, at a time when Oliver Wendell Holmes 
was professor of anatomy. From that in- 
stitution he was graduated November 18, 
1846, and immediately commenced the 
practice of his profession at Corinth, in his 
native county. While residing there he was 
married at Topsham, Vermont, in 1846, to 
Miss Isabel Taplin, a daughter of Colonel 



lO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Gouldsburn Taplin, of Corinth, Vermont. 
By this union there were three children. 
Emma married William Myers, of Carth- 
age, Missouri. Electa married Walter Water- 
man, a grocer of Sycamore, Illinois. William 
G. is editor of a paper at Uwight, Illinois, and 
is also postmaster of that city. In August, 
1850, a few months after Dr. Dustin left 
Vermont, Mrs. Dustin died. 

The discovery of gold in California 
caused great excitement throughout the 
length and breadth of the land, and every 
state in the union sent its representatives 
to the New Eldorado. In the spring of 
1850, Dr. Dustin started for the land of 
gold, sailing from New York, on the steam- 
er Georgia, March i 3. Landing at Charles- 
ton, South Carolina, a number of slaves 
were brought on board, which was his first 
glimpse of slavery as it then existed in 
the south. It was a strange sight to him, 
and the incident was firmly fixed in mem- 
ory, causing him afterwards to become a 
thorough anti-slavery man. From Charles- 
ton he went to Panama, and crossing the 
Isthmus, reached San Francisco the mid- 
dle of June of that year. He was accom- 
panied by several partners, and they took 
with them a dredging machine to wash the 
gold from submerged bars, but sold the 
same immediately on their arrival for a 
large advance. After selling the dredger, 
Dr. Dustin went first to Benecia, and later 
to Sacramento, and in the latter place en- 
gaged in the practice of his profession. 
Going to the mining regions at Hangtown, 
he engaged in mining for a time, but finally 
drifted into the French Corral in Nevada 
county, at which place he met the lady 
who later became his wife, and at Spring 
Valley, California, October 15, 1854, the 
Doctor was united in marriage with Miss 



Elmira Pauly, a native of Lebanon, Ohio, 
and a daughter of Aaron Pauly, also a 
native of the same state, whose father emi- 
grated from western Germany to Amer- 
ica in the early part of the century. Aaron 
Pauly married Lydia Birdsall, a native of 
Wilmington, Ohio, and a daughter of Daniel 
and Zada (Hinman) Birdsall. Elmira was 
their only child. Her mother dying, her 
father later married, and in 1849 went to 
California, and was followed in 1852 by 
his second wife and family. Aaron Pauly 
was a merchant tailor in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
but engaged in the general mercantile busi- 
ness in California. He retired from busi- 
ness about 1884, and died in San Diego, 
California, in 1890. By this second union 
Dr. Dustin had one child, Zada, wife of 
John C. Craft, cashier of the Bankers Na- 
tional Bank, Chicago. 

On locating in Nevada county, Cali- 
fornia, Dr. Dustin engaged in the mercan- 
tile trade, and also in the practice of his 
profession, his services being more in de- 
mand in cases of surgery than in medicine. 
Cuttings and shootings were quite frequent, 
while the climate was remarkably healthy. 
While there he gave some attention to sur- 
face mining with fair success. He also 
mingled in political affairs, and in 1855-6 
he was chosen to represent Nevada county 
in the legislature of that state. 

Having seen enough of California, he de- 
termined to again return east, but instead 
of returning to his own home, came to 
Sycamore, Illinois, where he became asso- 
ciated with J. E. and Chauncey Ellwood, 
in the mercantile business, continuing with 
them until the outbreak of the Civil war. 
He enlisted first in the Eighth Illinois Cav- 
alry, and by Governor Yates was commis- 
sioned captain, January 3, 1862, taking the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 1 



rank from September i, 1861, and was pro- 
moted major in 1862, ranking from January 
8, 1862. In March, 1862, his regiment 
joined in the general advance on Manassas, 
in General Sumner's division. In the early 
part of the spring of that year, at four dif- 
ferent times it drove the enemy across the 
Rappahannock. His regiment did impor- 
tant service at Gaines Hill and Malvern 
Hill, leading the advance on the second oc- 
cupation of Malvern Hill, and with Benson's 
Battery, United States Artillery, bore the 
brunt of the fight, and brought up the rear 
of our retreating forces at Barrett's Ford 
and at Chickahominy. At the opening of 
the Seven Days Fight, Major Dustin was in 
command of a squadron of the Eighth, on 
the extreme right of our lines, and where 
the rebel troops first encountered the Union 
army. The first volley of musketry on the 
first day of that memorable succession of 
engagements, was fired at Major Dustin, his 
orderly and a captain of his command, by 
the advance guard of the enemy at close 
range, the captain being shot down by the 
Major's side. 

In July, 1862, Major Dustin resigned, 
came home, and assisted in raising the One 
Hundred and Fifth Regiment Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry, which was mustered into 
the service September 2, 1862, at Di.xon, Illi- 
nois. Major Dustin received the commis- 
sion of colonel, October 4, 1862, ranking 
from September i, 1862, and was placed in 
command of the regiment. Soon after 
muster, the regiment joined the Army of 
the Cumberland, with which it remained 
throughout the war. In the spring of 1864, 
with the One Hundred and Second and One 
Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois, the 
Seventieth Indiana and Seventy-ninth 
Ohio, the regiment formed the First Bri- 



gade, Third Division of the Twentieth Army 
Corps. After the Atlanta campaign. Colonel 
Dustin was placed in command of the Sec- 
ond Brigade of the same division and corps, 
and remained its commander during the 
war. He accompanied General Sherman 
in his march to the sea, and after the bat- 
tle of Averysboro, North Carolina, he was 
breveted brigadier-general, a promotion 
which was well deserved. His commission 
was received April 9, 1866, ranking from 
March 16, 1865, and given for gallant serv- 
ices in the campaign in Georgia and South 
Carolina. Marching with his brigade to 
Washington, he participated in the grand 
review, and June 7, 1865, was mustered 
out of the service, having made a record of 
which he might well be proud. Returning 
home, in the summer of 1865, General 
Dustin was nominated on the Republican 
ticket for the office of county clerk, and was 
duly elected in November following, and 
served a term of four years. He was later 
elected county treasurer and served a 
term of two years, and in 1880 was 
elected circuit clerk, re-elected in 1884, 
and again in 1888. He resigned the latter 
office and by President Harrison was ap- 
pointed, May 2, i8go, sub-treasurer of the 
United States treasury at Chicago. In the 
latter office he served with distinguished 
ability until his death at Carthage, Mis- 
souri, March 30, 1892, while on a visit to 
his daughter. During the construction of 
the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Quincy, 
Illinois, he was president of the board of 
trustees. 

From the organization of the party un- 
til his death, General Dustin was a consist- 
ent Republican. In the councils of his 
party, his views always commanded re- 
spect, and his advice was generally found 



"12 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to be correct. Twice was he the choice of 
the Republicans of De Kalb county for 
congress, but withdrew in favor of personal 
friends. In the various political campaigns 
he took an active part, and did yeoman 
service for his party. Fluent of speech, 
and possessing rare grace and power of 
oratory, he was a most effective stump 
speaker. Fraternally, he was a Mason of 
high standing, having attained the thirty- 
second degree. In 1872, he was elected 
right eminent commander of the grand 
commandery of Ivnight Templars of Illi- 
nois, a position which he creditably filled. 
He was appointed representative of New 
Jersey in the Illinois grand lodge. Relig- 
iously, he was a member of the Congrega- 
tional church, of which body his wife and 
daughters are also members. As a friend 
and neighbor he was universally loved and 
respected, and his death left a void which 
can never be filled. 



ALBERT F. ROWLEY, photographer, 
has a pleasant suite of rooms at No. 
245 Main street, De Kalb, IlHnois. The 
growth and development of photography 
has baen one of the most striking results of 
the last century of progress. A perfection of 
results has been obtained, which marks the 
highest type of artistic development. In- 
deed there is no branch of art which has 
made such rapid strides in so short a time, 
and it is thought that the time is not far 
distant when landscape scenes will be pro- 
duced by means of photography in their 
natural colors, thus combining truth, art 
and nature. Photography is indeed one of 
the fine arts, and the successful photogra- 
pher must be an artist in the true sense of 
the term. Such we find Mr. Rowley to be. 



He is a young man of progressive ideas, 
thoroughly in love with his art, and has con- 
stantly adopted the latest devices for pro- 
ducing superior work. A visit to the studio 
of Mr. Rowley is a rare treat to the lover 
of true beauty in art. It is ornamented 
with many specimens from the camera, 
brush and pencil of Mr. and Mrs. Rowley 
(the latter being an artist of high merit), 
and afford the best possible evidence of the 
genius and skill which is brought to bear in 
the management of this establishment. 

Mr. Rowley was born in Rochelle, Ogle 
county, Illinois, May 18, 1864, and is the 
son of Thomas and Susan Rowley. His 
father is one of the oldest settlers in Ogle 
county, having resided there for more than 
forty years. He owns a valuable farm of 
two hundred acres, and is a well known and 
influential man in the community where he 
resides, having been honored by his fellow 
citizens with various local offices of honor 
and trust. He is a native of Syracuse, 
New York. 

Our subject grew to manhood in his na- 
tive county, and was educated in the public 
schools. He early evinced a taste for art, 
and began to practice photography as an 
amateur, first at Aurora. He saw then, as 
all young aspirants should see, "room at 
the top" and began preparations to fill it. 
While residing in Aurora, on June i, 1893, 
he married Miss Eva E. Shippee, the daugh- 
ter of Silas H. and Ami Shippee. Shortly 
after his marriage, he went to Chicago, 
placing himself under the instruction of 
Hoyt & Gale, to perfect himself in his pro- 
fession. Returning to Aurora, he remained 
there a short time, and in 1896 moved to 
De Kalb, where he purchased the establish- 
ment and good will of Mr. Oleson, since 
which time his business has increased four- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'3 



fold. His establishment is supplied with 
the most perfect apparatus and an admira- 
bly adapted arrangement for securing the 
proper light and shade, to produce the de- 
sired results. His reception room is spa- 
cious, and handsomely and appropriately 
furnished. In addition to his regular busi- 
ness, he keeps a full line of amateur sup- 
plies. His work consists of commercial 
landscapes, crayon, new process bromide, 
lantern slides, stereoscopic and colored 
work, in fact everything in the line of pho- 
tography. His wife ably assists him in his 
fine work, especially in retouching, which is 
executed by what is termed the retouching 
device, worked by electricity. Mrs. Row- 
ley has many students under her, who prac- 
tice with pencil and brush. 



HON. GEORGE STEWART ROBIN- 
SON was for years a well known citi- 
zen of Sycamore, Illinois, a lawyer of rec- 
ognized ability, one who enjoyed the respect 
and confidence of the entire community. He 
was a native of Derby, Vermont, born June 
24, 1824, and was second in the family of 
three sons born to George and Harriet 
(Stewart) Robinson. His father was a na- 
tive of Connecticut, and the son of Eber 
Robinson, a captain in the war of the Rev- 
olution. His mother was a native of Ver- 
mont and a daughter of Rufus Stewart, 
a major in the war of 1812. George Rob- 
inson was by occupation a farmer, and also 
served his country faithfully during the war 
of 1812. He died about 1870, when about 
seventy-five years old. 

In his native city, our subject received 
his primary education in the common 
schools, and later attended the Derby Acad- 
emy. When nineteen years old he entered 



the law office of Hon. S. B. Colby, at Der- 
by, and began his professional studies. After 
reading under Mr. Colby's instruction for 
two years, he finished his legal course with 
Hon. Lucius B. Peck, of Montpelier, one 
of Vermont's most prominent attorneys, 
and was admitted to the bar of his native 
state November 18, 1846. On account of 
close application to his studies, his health 
failed, and with the hope of its restoration, 
in 1847, he went south, where he was oc- 
cupied in teaching. In 1853 he returned to 
Vermont, and in his native town, October 
13, he married Olive A. Colby, also a na- 
tive of Derby, and a daughter of Nehemiah 
Colby, and a granddaughter of Samuel Col- 
by, both of whom were natives of New 
Hampshire. Nehemiah Colby was for many 
years engaged in the mercantile trade, and 
also followed the occupation of farming for 
a time. For some fifteen years he was 
postmaster of Derby, and was one of its 
best known men. Religiously he was a 
Congregationalist, and a firm believer in the 
Christian religion. His death occurred in 
1862, at the age of seventy-five years, be- 
ing preceded by his wife, Malinda Larra- 
bee, born in 1790, and a daughter of John 
Larrabee. She died in 1842, at the age of 
fifty-two years. They were the parents of 
thirteen children, of whom Mrs. Robinson 
was twelfth in order of birth. 

Immediately after their marriage, Mr. 
and Mrs. Robinson went to Cuthbert, 
Georgia, and he began the practice of law 
in that city, where he resided during the 
trying times of the Civil war. For a few 
months during the war, much against his 
will, he was compelled to serve in the 
Georgia State Militia. Being a well known 
Union man, he suffered many inconven- 
iences, and his practice was completely 



14 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



broken up. Having a cousin residing in 
Sycamore, Illinois, by his invitation, he 
came to this place in 1866, and soon after- 
ward became associated with Hon. Charles 
Kellum, a partnership which continued for 
four years. He then continued alone until his 
election as county judge in 1S77, a position 
which he continued to hold until 1SS2, when 
he resigned to attend to private business in 
Vermont. 

For several years prior to his election as 
judge of the county court, he held the posi- 
tion of master in chancery, which position 
he resigned soon after his election. \Mien 
Sycamore was organized as a city, he was 
elected alderman and served two terms. He 
was also city attorney, and drafted the ordi- 
nances under which the city was governed 
for years, many of which are still in force. 
In 1869, he was appointed on the board of 
state commissioners of public charities for 
the state of Illinois, by Governor John M. 
Palmer, was re-appointed by Governor John 
L. Beveridge, in 1874, and again by Gover- 
nor Shelby M. Cullom, in 1879. He was 
an active member of the board until March, 
1884, when he resigned, being unable to 
attend to the duties of the position by reason 
of absence from the state on business de- 
manding his entire time. For nearly fifteen 
years he was a member of the board, and 
was its president for nine years, devoting 
from two to three months of his time each 
year to its work, spending much more than 
he received for his services. 

To Judge and Mrs. Robinson three chil- 
dren were born: Harriet M., Lucius P. and 
Nellie C, the second named dying in In- 
fancy. Harriet M. , who was born in Georgia, 
married C. L. Buchan, of Rockford, 111., and 
they have one son, George Buchan Robin- 
son, the son having been adopted by the 



Judge to bear his name. He is now at the 
Morgan Park Academy, a preparatory school 
for the Chicago University. Nellie C. mar- 
ried James B. Ellwood, and died in 1892, 
and was soon followed by her only child, a 
daughter, Muriel Olive. 

Judge Robinson was a man of more than 
ordinary ability, was well read in the law, 
and withal was endowed with good com- 
mon sense. As judge of the county and 
probate courts no man ever filled the posi- 
tion in a more satisfactory manner. His 
popularity with the bar and the people was 
always maintained, and he was always con- 
sidered an able lawyer, and a safe counsel- 
lor. As a member of the state board of 
public charities, he made a state reputation 
and notwithstanding he received no compen- 
sation, he devoted his time just as faithfully 
and as energetically as though he was re- 
ceiving a handsome salary. He was always 
interested in educational affairs, and gave 
much of his time to advance the interests of 
the school, being president of the school 
board at the time of his death. Frater- 
nally, he v.'as a Mason, holding membership 
in the blue lodge, chapter and command- 
ery. He was a man of excellent qualities 
of head and heart, and his friends were 
numerous, not only throughout De Kalb 
county, but the entire state. His death, 
which occurred October 30, i 894, left a void 
which could not well be filled. 



EDWIN GILSON, deceased, was well- 
known throughout DeKalb county, as a 
man of upright character, one whom to know 
was to love. He was born in Westminster, 
Vermont, December 27, 181 i, and was the 
son of Michael Gilson, who was also born in 
Westminster, in 1782, and who died in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



IS 



1852. His father, Zackariah Gilson, was 
born in 1736, and died in 1804. He mar- 
ried Hannah Patch, who died in 1826, at 
the age of eighty-four years. Zackariah 
moved from Massachusetts, in an early day, 
and built a house in which three generations 
were born. Michael Gilson married Eunice 
Haywood, born in 1783, and died in 1838. 
She was the daughter of Deacon David 
Haywood, who was a descendant of John 
Haywood, who was born in Concord, Mas- 
sachusetts, in 1633, and who attained the 
age of sixty-seven years. His son. Deacon 
John Haywood, was born in the same place 
in 1662, and died at the age of fifty years. 
He was the father of Samuel Haywood, born 
in Concord, in 1687, and who died at the 
age of sixty-three years. Charles, the son 
of Samuel, was born in Winchendon in 1723, 
and died at the age of eighty-six years: He 
was the father of Deacon David, who was 
born in 1755, and died at the age of seventy- 
one years. The latter married in 17S0, Abi- 
gail Bixby, whose mother, Jerusha Hough- 
ton, was of an old English family. Abigail 
died at Weathersfield, Massachusetts, in 
1824. Deacon David Haywood enlisted at 
Holden, Vermont, in 1777, and served two 
years in the revolutionary army, being at 
one time stationed at West Point. To 
Deacon David Haywood and wife, a daugh- 
ter, Eunice, was born in 1783. She mar- 
ried Michael Gilson, and bore him five sons: 
Michael, Jr., Solon, Edwin, Ira and Charles. 
The latter for many years was professor of 
modern languages in Williams college. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the home farm, and in his boyhood attended 
the common schools. He early assumed 
charge of the farm, and consequently his 
school life was limited. He was self-edu- 
cated in later life, having mastered algebra 



alone, and studied astronomy, knowing all 
the principal constellations and stars by 
name. He was a omniverous reader, with 
mind clear to the end of life, hand steady 
and writing clear, regular and distinct at the 
age of eighty years. 

He was married in Putney, Vermont, 
May 20, 1845, to Miss Fanny Evans, born 
in Athens, Vermont, October i, 1816, and 
who is yet living, and making her home 
with her daughter, Mrs. Mary G. Shurtleff. 
She is the daughter of Roswell Evans, who 
married Jerusha Chaffee. By this union 
three children were born. Solon died in 
infancy. Carrie died unmarried at the age 
of twenty-five years. Mary G., who was 
born at Westminster, Vermont, in the Con- 
necticut valley, in the house where her 
father and grandfather were born, received 
a good education and inherited her father's 
bright mind. As successful teacher, she 
found her father a great help in school work 
and always went to him wiih difficult prob- 
lems. A member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church, she is active in church work, 
being a willing worker in the cause of her 
master. She was married June 4, 1885, to 
Ephraim Shurtleff, a descendant of one of 
the old pioneer families of DeKalb county. 

In the fall of 1855, Mr. Gilson visited a 
brother in Wisconsin, and after looking over 
a portion of that state and also a portion of 
northern Illinois, he decided to settle in 
DeKalb county. Purchasing a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres near Cortland, in 
Cortland township, and in the spring of 
1856, brought his family from Vermont and 
at once engaged in farming. He became a 
well known and influential man in the town- 
ship, and for several years served as super- 
visor from the township and also as asses- 
sor. He lived on the farm until 1867, when 



i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he removed to Sycamore, where he pur- 
chased eight acres north of the city, which 
he cultivated in order that he might have 
something to keep him busy. He was for 
sixty-five years a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and was very active in 
church work, being for years chairman of 
its official board. He attended all meetings 
of the church, and was a liberal giver in its 
support. He was never sick in his life, 
never seemed old but always young in heart 
and mind — a man that everybody respected 
and loved. He passed away April 21, 1891. 



HON. CHARLES KELLUM, late judge 
of the twelfth judicial circuit, now the 
sixteenth circuit, had the reputation of being 
one of the best judges that ever occupied 
the bench in the state, a state that has 
always been distinguished for the high rank 
of her bench and bar. In him were found 
united many of the rare qualities which go 
to make up the successful lawyer and jurist. 
He was born March 16, 1821, in Susque- 
hanna county, Pennsylvania, and is the son 
of Samuel and Lucretia (Eldridge) Kellum, 
the former a native of Connecticut, born in 
New London county, October 19, 1783, and 
the latter in the same county, November 
27, 1786. The maternal grandfather, 
James Eldridge, and the maternal grand- 
mother, Sarah (Newton) Eldridge, were 
also born in the same county. The former 
was born November 16, 1753, and died 
August 2, 1841. The latter was born De- 
cember 17, 1757, and died August 6, 1824. 
Samuel Kellum, the father, was a son of 
Samuel Kellum, Sr. , a native of Connecti- 
cut, who served as captain in the militia, 
and was otherwise prominent in the affairs 
of the state. The father was also a prom- 



inent man in the state, and likewise served 
as captain in the militia. He was a Mason 
of high standing in the order, and the Judge 
treasures among his possessions a notice 
sent his father of which the following is a 
copy: 

"Companion Samuel Kellum: 

"You are requested to attend the duties 
of Franklin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, 
at Newcome Kunys, their chamber of con- 
vocation, in the city of Norwich, on Wednes- 
day next, at five o'clock P. M., on special 
business. 

"Norwich, ist March, A. D. 1809. 

"Joseph Powers, Sec'y F. C. 

" By order of the M. E. H. P." 

By occupation Samuel Kellum, the fa- 
ther, was a farmer, which vocation he fol- 
lowed during his entire residence in the 
state. Politically he was a Whig, having 
an abiding faith in the principles of that 
party. With it he continued to act until 
the formation of the Republican party 
when, on account of its liberty loving prin- 
ciples, he gave adhesion to it, and continued 
to act with it during the remainder of his life. 
In 1866, he came west and made his home 
with the Judge, where his death occurred 
January 2, 1869. His wife, who was a na- 
tive of New London county, Connecticut, 
survived him ten years, dying at Prophets- 
town, Illinois, January 2, 1879. Samuel 
Kellum was a large, athletic man, over six 
feet in height, and strongly built. He was 
over eighty-five years old when his death 
occurred, while his wife was over ninety- 
two years old when she departed this life. 
They were the parents of seven children: 
Samuel, Elizabeth, Isaac S., Ann E., Hen- 
ry F., Charles and William C. All are de- 
ceased but our subject, 




HON. CHARLES KELLUM. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



19 



Charles Kellum, our subject, received 
his primary education in the district school, 
and was then sent to Mannington academy 
and boarding school, in Susquehanna coun- 
ty, where he passed through all the courses. 
He then began the study of law at Mont- 
rose, Pennsylvania, in the office of Lusk & 
Little, where he read law about two and a 
half years, and in 1844 was admitted to 
the bar. With his preceptors he remained 
two years on a salary, and then went home 
to his father's farm in Bradford county, and 
gave his time to outdoor pursuits in order 
that he might recover his health, which had 
been impaired by close study and work for 
more than four years. After the recovery 
of his health, he went to Towanda, Brad- 
ford county, where he opened an office, and 
commenced the practice of his profession. 
He continued there in practice about four 
years; during a year and a half he was in 
partnership with the late Judge Henry 
Booth. 

In 1854, Mr. Kellum started for the 
great west, coming on the Erie railroad to 
LaPorte, Indiana, where he remained about 
one year with his brother, Isaac S. Kellum, 
who was engaged in the banking business at 
that place. While there he assisted his 
brother in the office, and got an insight into 
the banking business. Leaving LaPorte, he 
came to Sycamore, Illinois, arriving March 
17, 1855, when he formed a partnership 
with William Eordham, under the firm name 
of Fordham & Kellum, which lasted one 
year. He was then alone for a time, after 
which at different times he had various part- 
ners, the firms being Kellum & Webster, 
Kellum & Robinson, Mayo, Kellum & Chase, 
Kellum & Cames, Ivellum & Stephens and 
Kellum & Balliet. In 1879 he received the 
nomination from the Republican judicial 



convention for judge of the twelfth circuit, 
and was duly elected. The circuit at that 
time embraced DeKalb, Boone, McHenry, 
Lake, Kane, DuPage and Ivendall counties. 
He was re-elected in 1885, and again in 
1 891, serving until 1897, when he retired 
from the bench. His eighteen years on the 
bench was one of arduous labor. He is 
now engaged only as counselor, and does 
not try cases in court. 

Judge Ivellum was married March 15, 
1855, at LaPorte, Indiana, to Miss Chloe 
Clement, a native of LaPorte, Indiana, and 
a daughter of William and Caroline (Reed) 
Clement, both of whom were from Erie, 
Pennsylvania. By this union two children 
were born. The eldest, William C, was 
born in Sycamore, December 14, 1855, and 
was educated at Todd's school, at Wood- 
stock, Illinois. He studied law in his 
father's office and was admitted to the bar 
in 1878, and at once commenced practice. 
He is a good attorney, and is worthy to 
wear the mantle of his .distinguished sire. 
He married Laura McKinnon, by whom he 
lias one child, Charles S. The Judge's 
second son, Samuel, was born December 22, 
1857, is married and has one child, Charles. 
He is in business in Chicago, where he has 
made many friends. Mrs. Kellum departed 
this life, January 24. 1898, deeply mourned 
by all who knew her, being a woman who 
won the hearts of all. 

From 1868 to 1872 Mr. I\ellum was 
state's attorney for the then thirteenth cir- 
cuit, during which time he had the prosecu- 
tion of several murder cases. As an advo- 
cate he was quite strong, always holding the 
attention of the jury and the respect of the 
court. During his long service on the 
bench, he was always regarded as a fair, im- 
partial and able judge. He had the faculty 



20 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of establishing precedents when there were 
none, and his rulings were generally sus- 
tained by the higher courts. After a con- 
tinuous service of eighteen years upon the 
bench, he voluntarily retired, on account of 
approacliing old age, and by the bar was 
presented with a set of resolutions of respect 
and a gold-headed cane, as a mark of re- 
spect and appreciation. His decisions were 
always made upon the basis of equality and 
justice, and were marked by the large 
amount of common sense with which nature 
and ripe experience so liberally endowed 
him. 

Judge Kellum is a Mason, and has at- 
tained the rank of I\night Templar. Polit- 
ically he is a Republican, and although 
never a partisan, he has served his party as 
a delegate to various state conventions. It 
is, however, as a lawyer and a judge that he 
will always be remembered. In the midst 
of friends, who hold him in tlie highest re- 
gard, he is now enjoying the fruits that 
come to a noble and well spent life. 



ADOLPH LEIFHEIT, who resides on 
section i8, Squaw Grove township, is 
a representative of that class of German- 
American citizens who have been instru- 
mental in developing the waste places 
of this land, and who, by their industrious and 
thrifty habits, usually place themselves in 
comfortable circumstances, that their last 
days may be spent in ease and comfort. The 
subject of this sketch is the owner of a 
valuable farm of three hundred and twenty 
acres, lying three miles west of Hinckley, 
which he has under the highest state of cul- 
tivation. He was born on the farm where 
he now resides July 24, 1857, and is the son 
of William Leifheit, a native of Germany, 



born in 1821, and who grew to manhood in 
his native country, and there married Caro- 
line Eckhart, also a native of Germany. 
Together they emigrated to the New World 
about iS45,and first located in Kendallcoun- 
ty, where he went to work on a farm by the 
month. Later he rented land in Kendall 
county, and engaged in farming for himself. 
After residing in Kendall county for a few 
years, he moved to De Kalb county, and 
purchased one hundred and si.xty acres in 
Squaw Grove township, which comprises a 
part of the present farm of our subject. On 
locating here he built a small frame house, 
and began the improvement of the place. 
Later he purchased more land, and finally 
was the owner of eight eighty-acre tracts, 
or six hundred and forty acres in all, and 
which all lay in one body. Year by year the 
improvements went on, now a barn, then 
some other outbuilding, then the tiling of 
the land, until it resulted in one of the most 
productive far iis in the entire county. He 
was a very successful farmer, and actively 
engaged in that vocation until about 1S84, 
when he rented the place and has since lived 
a retired life. He is now seventy-seven 
years old, and a well-preserved man. His 
wife died about 1892. They were the pa- 
rents of eleven children, all of whom grew 
to mature j'ears, while nine are yet living, 
three daughters and six sons. 

Adolph Leifheit was fifth in order of 
birth, and grew to manhood on the farm 
and was educated in the common schools of 
Squaw Grove township. He remained with 
his father until he attained his majority 
and render faithful assistance in the improve- 
ment of the place. He was married in De- 
Kalb county, March 14, 1881, to Miss 
Louisa Granart, a native of the county and 
a daughter of Ferdinand Granart, a sub- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



21 



stantial farmer of Squaw Grove township, 
and who was originally from Germany. 
After his marriage he rented one hundred 
and sixty acres of his father's farm, which 
he operated for five years, and then returned 
to the old home, which he rented for a pe- 
riod of eight years. In 1894 he bought a 
part oi the old farm, comprising three 
hundred and twenty acres, and since that 
time has made many improvements upon 
the place, remodeling the old house and 
erecting a new and large barn. In addition 
to general farming, he is engaged in dealing 
and breeding in Short-horned cattle and 
Poland China hogs. In all his operations 
he has met with success, and is now num- 
bered among the most substantial farmers 
of De Kalb county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Leifheit are the parents 
of five children, four of whom are living — 
Ella, Hattie, William and Irvin, all of whom 
yet remain at home. Mr. Leifheit is a life- 
long Republican, and while he gives the 
party his support, he asks no favors in the 
way of local office, but gives his undivided 
attention to his farming interests. He and 
his wife are members of the German Lu- 
theran church. A life-long resident of the 
county, he has an extensive acquaintance 
and is held in the highest esteem by those 
who know him. 



THOMAS HOLLAND, the present sup- 
ervisor and a substantial farmer of 
Cortland township, is well known to the 
great majority of citizens of De Kalb coun- 
ty. He was born in Richfield township, 
Fairfield county, Connecticut, April 28, 
1845, and is the son of Robert and Grace 
(Keeler) Holland, the foriiTer a native of 
Ireland, and the latter of Fairfield county. 



Connecticut. They were the parents of five 
children — Ellen, Thomas, George, Nathan 
G. and Jane E. The first and last named 
are deceased. 

Robert Holland, the father, was born in 
Fermanagh, Ireland, March 26, 181 5, and 
was the son of Thomas and Ellen (Graham) 
Holland, also natives of Ireland, and who 
passed all their lives in that land. In May, 
1839, Robert Holland came to the United 
States, landing in New York, and spending 
the first three months after his arrival at 
Poughkeepsie, New York, where he found 
employment in a brick yard. He was next 
employed by a hotel keeper in Dutchess 
county. New York, with whom he remained 
about one year, then went to the town of 
Richfield, Fairfield county, Connecticut, 
where on the 28th of June, 1843, he mar- 
ried Grace IveeFer, a daughter of Thomas 
S. and Emily (Gilbert) Keeler. After re- 
maining in Fairfield county about fourteen 
years, in 1854 he came west and located in 
Kaneville township, Kane county, Illinois, 
where he remained some ten years, and 
then came to De Kalb county, Illinois, lo- ' 
eating in Cortland township. 

The subject of this sketch was nine 
years of age when he came with his parents 
to Illinois, and about twenty years old when 
they located in De Kalb county. His edu- 
cation was obtained in the schools of his 
native county, and also in the public 
schools of Kaneville township, Kane coun- 
ty, Illinois. His entire life has been passed 
on the farm, and he was required to do his 
full share of farm labor from his boyhood 
up. On the i ith of October, 1870, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Fanny A. 
Hojakins, a native of Cortland township, 
and a daughter of Cyrus B. Hopkins, and 
a sister of Hon. Albert J. Hopkins, at pres- 



22 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ent representing the eighth Illinois district 
in congress. By this nnion there has been 
five children, two of whom died in infancy. 
The living are Floyd J., Ellen M. and Fan- 
nie M. 

In politics Mr. Holland is a stanch Re- 
publican, with which party he has been 
connected since attaining his majority. For 
nine years in succession he has served as 
supervisor of Cortland township, and is yet 
serving in the same capacity. That he has 
served his township faithfully and well, is 
attested by his re-election from time to 
time. He has also served as school direc- 
tor, school trustee, and in other minor 
township offices. For a number of years 
he has served his party as a member of the 
county central committee, and as such has 
wielded considerable influence in that body. 
Religiously he and his wife*are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. He is 
the owner of eighty-six acres of highly im- 
proved land, and no man in Cortland town- 
ship holds the regard of the people in a high- 
er degree. 



m; 



p. ANDERSON, one of the proprie- 
ors of the De Kalb Tea and Coffee 
Companj', is a native of Sweden, born in 
1864. His education was obtained m the 
schools of his native land. In 18S2, when 
but eighteen years of age, he came to the 
United States, and first located in McKean 
county, Pennsylvania, wliere he remained 
about five years, engaged in lumbering and 
where he had his first experience of Ameri- 
ca's primeval forests. In 1887 he went to 
Montana, where he was engaged in the 
same business, and where he remained four 
years. From there he came to Illinois, and 
located at Rockford, which was his home 



until 1895, at which time he removed to the 
city of De Kalb. 

In 1890 Mr. Anderson was united in 
marriage with Miss Ida C. Swanson, a na- 
tive of Sweden. By this union are four 
children, Mamie, Ada, Adla and Ruth. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members 
of the Swedish Lutheran church, and are 
actively interested in the work of that body. 

When Mr. Anderson, with his partner, 
S. Carlson, first began business, their stock 
was confined to tea and coffee. Their trade 
grew to such proportions in a very short 
time as to necessitate a larger store room. 
This was obtained by moving farther east 
into their present commodious store build- 
ing, situated on Main street, between Sixth 
and Seventh, and which ranks second to 
none in that section of the city. Since re- 
moving into their new quarters, they have 
not only enlarged their stock, but put in a 
greater variety, including many of the lux- 
uries and delicacies, their stock varying and 
changing with the season. A splendid 
showing is made in choice teas and coffees, 
of which they keep a superior quality. They 
are both good business men and have the 
confidence of the community in which they 
reside. 



CAPT. ANTHONY RAMER, of Hinch- 
ley, Illinois, is a well known citizen of 
De Kalb county, one who has resided here 
since 1846. He is a native of Crawford 
county, Ohio, born March 17, 1842, and is 
the son of Henry L. and Susanna (Troup) 
Ramer, both of whom were natives of 
Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, the former 
born August 8, 1804, and the latter Novem- 
ber 2, 1808. In 1833, they emigrated to 
Ohio, and settled in Richland county, where 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



23 



they remained until 1846. In that year 
they came to Illinois, and first settled in Du 
Page county, where he rented a farm and 
there remained until 1849, when he came 
to De Kalb county, and purchased a farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres on section 
27, Pierce township. He built a frame 
house upon it, for which he drew the lumber 
from Du Page county. On that farm he 
spent the remainder of his life, dying in April, 
1 88 1. His first wife died in January 9, 
1877, and he later married Catherine Smith, 
who lived but five months after their mar- 
riage. When he first located in Pierce 
township, his nearest neighbor was four 
miles away and there were but two or three 
residents in Pierce township. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in Pierce township, and had very 
limited educational advantages in the com- 
mon schools of pioneer days. On the 15th 
of January, 1863, he enlisted in Company 
C, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, his regi- 
ment being assigned to the Western De- 
partment, joining the army at St. Louis. 
He participated in a great many skirmishes, 
and was in the fight at Wilson Creek, where 
the Union army captured General Marma- 
duke, and seven thousand prisoners. He 
was later in the engagement near Fort 
Scott, Kansas, and for a time his regiment 
was in active pursuit of the noted guerrilla 
Quantrell. At Black River, Arkansas, he 
was injured by being thrown from a horse, 
having two ribs broken, shoulder dislocated 
and hips fractured, being permanently dis- 
abled. Some time later he was sent to Fort 
Leavenworth, and had his injuries dressed, 
and later was sent to the hospital at St. 
Joseph, Missouri. He was not discharged, 
however, until the fall of 1865, long after 
the close of the war. Enhsting as a private, 



he was promoted quartermaster of his regi- 
ment, and being made drilling master, he 
was given the honorary title of Captain. 

On receiving his discharge. Captain 
Ramer returned home, went back on the 
farm and assisted his father eight years. 
He was married in Pierce township, Janu- 
ary 15, 1875, to Miss Lucinda Jane 
Shoop, a native of Pierce township and 
a daughter of Solomon Shoop, one of 
the pioneer settlers of the township. 
After marriage, he bought a farm of eighty 
acres in Pierce township, a place which was 
fairly well improved and began life for him- 
self. He remained on that place for twenty- 
five years, then sold and purchased the 
place where he now resides, near Hinckley. 
His farm now comprises ninety-seven acres, 
the improvements on which are of a most 
substantial character. The Captain still 
suffers from the injuries received in the 
service, but notwithstanding gives personal 
attention to the cultivation of his farm. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ramer Ijave one daughter, Alta, a 
young lady at home. 

Politically Mr. Ramer is a stanch Re- 
publican, and has voted that party ticket 
since 1864, when he cast his first presiden- 
tial ballot for Abraham Lincoln. For two 
years he ser\-ed as collector in Pierce town- 
ship, constable five years and road commis- 
sioner three years. He has ever been a 
friend of education and the public schools, 
and for fourteen years served as a member 
of the school board. Since residing in 
Hinckley, he was elected and served as 
township collector of Squaw Grove town- 
ship for one year. For years he has served 
as a delegate to the various county and con- 
gressional conventions of his party, and 
usually in each campaign he organizes a 
campaign marching club, from sixty to 



24 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



eighty strong. The club usually attends 
all political gatherings within a reasonable 
distance. At the laying of the corner stone 
at De Kalb for the normal school building. 
he was appointed and served as marshal of 
the day. Fraternally he is a member of 
Aurora Post, No. 20, G. A. R. Few men 
are better known and none more highly re- 
spected. 



HO. GARY, superintendent of the barb 
wire, staple and field fence depart- 
ment of the American Steel Wire Com- 
pany, De Kalb, Illinois, was born in \\'ind- 
ham, Connecticut, March 6, 1850, and is 
the son of Horace H. and Cornelia E. 
(Brown) Gary, both of whom were also na- 
tives of Connecticut. Horace H. Gary was 
born in Scotland, Connecticut, August 5, 
1 8 19. By occupation he was a contractor 
and builder, and was a fearless abolitionist, 
a stanch Republican, and a patriotic citi- 
zen. He cast his first presidential vote for 
William Henry Harrison, and his last one 
for the grandson, Benjamin Harrison. His 
family consisted of eight children, all of 
whom grew to maturity, and si.x of whom 
are now living. Edgar A. is a grocer in 
Joliet, Illinois. Frederick A. is a farmer 
residing near Joliet. Frank L. is a mem- 
ber of Company B, Third Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, engaged in the war with Spain. 
Dwight P. is in the office of the superin- 
tendent of the Illinois Steel Company at 
Joliet. Oscar E. is engaged in farming 
near Joliet. One daughter is now engaged 
in teaching in the public schools of Chi- 
cago. 

Horace H. Gary was the son of Gapt. 
William Gary, born in Scotland, Connecti- 
cut, December 10, 1782, and who fought 



for his country in the war of 1S12. He 
was a farmer of influence and prominence, 
but in early life he learned the carpenter's 
trade, which he carried on in connection 
with farming. Captain William was the 
son of William Gary, born in Scotland, 
Connecticut, October 25, 174". He was 
the son of Deacon John Gary, born in 
Scotland, Connecticut, April 12, 1717. 
Deacon John was the son of John Gary, 
born June 23, 1695. John was the son of 
Deacon Joseph Gary, born in Bridgewater, 
Connecticut, in 1663. He was a prominent 
man in Bridgewater, and a member of the 
First Congregational church in \\'indham, 
Connecticut. He owned one thousand 
acres of land, which he purchased from the 
British government for ten pounds and nine 
shillings. He was buried by his townsmen 
under arms, a very unusual occurrence in 
those days. Deacon Joseph was a son of 
John Gary, who was a native of England, 
and the progenitor of the Garys in this 
country. He came from Somersetshire, 
near Bristol, England, in 1634, and joined 
the Plymouth colony in New England. 
Their coat of arms had on it the inscrip- 
tion, " Virtute excerpta." 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
and educated at Dover, Bureau county, Illi- 
nois, and after he received his education he 
taught school for some time, and also as- 
sisted his father in his building: and con- 
tracting. In 1873, he removed from Do- 
ver to Joliet, Illinois, where he engaged in 
the manufacture of paints and oils, which 
business he followed until 1886, when his 
health failed, which necessitated his selling 
the plant. He subsequently went to I<"lor- 
ida to regain his impaired health, which in 
a measure he did. It was at this time 
(1886) that I. L. Ell wood recognized in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



25 



him one who would be an important at- 
taclic to his extensive works at De^ Kalb. 
Mr. Cary was therefore duly authorized to 
take charge of the paint department of the 
I. L. Ellwood Manufacturing Company, 
which he did with successful results. He 
was soon afterwards removed to the office, 
and finally given entire charge of the plant 
as superintendent. 

Mr. Cary was united in marriage Octo- 
ber 24, 1 87 1, with Miss Anna E. Knight, 
who was born near Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania, May 18, 1852, and a daughter of 
Clayton E. and Lydia E. Knight. By this 
union five children have been born: Charles 
M., August 25, 1872; Herbert L. , June 18, 
1876; Ralph H., August, 1882; George B., 
October, 1884; and Mabel, August, 1887. 

Mr. Cary is well born, descending from 
one of the best families in England, and is 
a refined gentleman in the full acceptation 
of the term. His maternal grandfather 
Brown was a captain in the war of 1812. 
His great-grandfather and five of the broth- 
ers of the latter were brave and valiant 
soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Mr. 
Cary has in his possession a table which 
his great -great-grandfather built in his 
younger days, prior to the Revolution. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Cary are members of 
the Baptist church. Socially they are well 
esteemed wherever known, and have many 
warm friends in Bureau, Will and De Kalb 
counties. 



ROBERT NEWITT, who for many years 
was an active business man in De Kalb, 
Illinois, is now living a retired life. He 
was born in Oxfordshire, England, April 22, 
1822, and is the son of James and Hannah 



Newitt, both of whom were natives of the 
same country. James Newitt was a soldier 
in the British army, and having served his 
full time, was pensioned by the Crown. 

Robert Newitt grew to manhood in his 
native land, and received but a limited edu- 
cation in its private schools. He was twice 
married, his first union being with Miss 
Zilpah Bass, to whom was born one son, 
Robert B., who is now deceased. For his 
second wife he married Susan Rolph, De- 
cember 10, 1846, and to them were born 
three children: Zilpah, born August 8, 1848; 
Eliza, born April 21, 1850; and George, 
born April 8, 1852. 

Realizing that in his native land there 
were few opportunities for the aspiring ones 
to secure what may be termed even a fair 
living, he determined to emigrate to the 
New World, and accordingly with his wife 
and family he took a sailing vessel, and in 
April, 1854, landed at New York, from 
which place he came directly to De Kalb, 
Illinois, and engaged in the boot and shoe 
trade, in which he continued for forty-three 
years. As may well be imagined, the coun- 
try at that time was comparatively new, 
with no such evidence of thrift as is now 
shown by the manufactories of the city. 
He grew up with the country and town, and 
what he has accumulated is the result of 
close application to business, strict economy 
and fair dealing with his fellow men. 

In politics Mr. Newitt is a Republican, 
and has served his town in various offices, 
both previous and subsequent to its incor- 
poration. It goes without saying that in 
ever position occupied, he discharged its 
duties faithfully and well, with the same 
conscientious regard for right that char- 
acterized him in his private business In 
1897, when he sold his mercantile establish- 



26 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



meiit, he visited his native land, where he 
enjoyed the associations of former years. 
The old world, however, had not the at- 
tractions of the new, and he returned to the 
scenes of his active life, where he is now 
living retired, spending his time in looking 
after his city property, now owning several 
houses and vacant lots. As a citizen he is 
regarded highly, and has always been pro- 
gressive, with an eye single to the best in- 
terests of his adopted city and county. 



ISAAC LEONARD ELLWOOD.— The 
1 life history of him whose name heads 
this sketch is closely identified with the 
history of De Kalb, which has been his 
home for forty-three years. He began his 
remarkable career here when the city was 
a little village. He has grown with its 
growth, and has been largely instrumental 
in its development. His life has been one 
of untiring activity, and has been crowned 
with a degree of success attained by com- 
])aratively few men. 

A native of New York, Isaac L. Ell- 
wood was born in Salt Springville, Mont- 
gomery county, August 3, 1833, and is the 
seventh son in the family of Abraham and 
Sarah (Delong) EUwood. In early youth 
he began to earn his own livelihood. He 
was fitted for the responsible duties of life 
only by a limited common-school educa- 
tion, but his force of character, unflagging 
energy and perseverance made up for his 
lack of early opportunities. Driving a team 
on the Erie canal at ten dollars per month, 
and later clerking in a store until eighteen 
years of age, thus his youth was passed. 
The discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, 
however, brought a change in his life, for, 



with the hope of more quickl}- realizing a 
fortune, he made his way to California in 
185 1 and spent four years in that state. 
He worked in the mines for a year, and 
then secured a position as salesman in a 
Sacramento store. By industry and econ- 
omy he managed to secure a small capital, 
but not wishing to invest this in the far 
west he retraced his steps to Illinois, and 
established a little hardware store in De 
Kalb in 1855. His history from that time 
forward is one of interest, showing, as it 
does, that there is no royal road to wealth, 
but that industry and a fit utilization of his 
opportunities has brought him to the goal 
toward which all business men are eagerly 
wending their way. For twenty years he 
carried on his store, increasing his stock as 
his patronage justified. 

His travels through Illinois as an auc- 
tioneer, and his contact with farmers, 
brought to his knowledge a condition of 
affairs which in later years he was able to 
improve. Illinois' broad prairies offered 
special inducements to the agriculturists, 
but they had great difficulty in securing 
fences which would indicate the boundaries 
of their land and prevent cattle from de- 
stroying the crops. As there were no for- 
ests lumber was very expensive, and then, 
too, the board fences were being continu- 
ally broken down and in need of repair. 
J. F. Glidden invented what is to-day 
known as the Glidden barb wire and Mr. 
Ellwood assisted him in obtaining patents, 
having a half interest in the invention. In 
1876 Mr. Glidden sold his interest to the 
Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Com- 
pany, and they together, after a litigation 
of some years, granted licenses to various 
factories. Through Mr. lillwood's influence 
and foresight, all of the underlying and first 




ISAAC L. ELLWOOD. 



The biographical record. 



29 



patents on barb wire and machinery for 
making the same were combined together, 
enabling him, with the assistance of others, 
to build up one of the largest and most suc- 
cessful business enterprises in the history 
of the country. For forty years farming 
was carried on in this section of the United 
States with the same need of fencing mate- 
rial, yet not until the year mentioned did 
any one take advantage of the opportunity 
to give the world this important invention. 
For a time Mr. Ellwood was associated in 
the manufacture of barb wire v.'ith Mr. 
Glidden and afterward with the Washburn 
& Moen Manufacturing Company, of Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts. This connection 
continued for some time, but Mr. Ellwood 
is now exclusive owner and manager of the 
large manufacturing establishment at De 
Kalb, doing business under the firm name 
of the I. L. Ellwood Manufacturing Com- 
pany. When he was associated with Mr. 
Glidden he was placed in charge of the 
business management of the firm, and to 
his tact and business ability may be attrib- 
uted in no small measure the success of the 
enterprise. 

From time to time improvements have 
of course been made. Countless objections 
were urged against the new fencing ma- 
terial, but this was to be expected, for no 
successful invention ever came at once into 
general use. Its utility, however, was soon 
demonstrated, and the sales increased rap- 
idly after a time. The fencing began to be 
used not only by the farmers but also by 
the railroad companies; and although the 
railroad corporations were loath at first to 
accept the invention, they have to-day thou- 
sands of miles of road enclosed with barb- 
wire fence. In order to turn out his ma- 
terial at a lower cost, it was seen that it 
2 



would be necessary to have automatic ma- 
chinery, which was secured through the 
efforts of Mr. Ellwood. This machine was 
made for the purpose of taking the raw wire 
from the coil, barb, twist and spool it ready 
for use; and in perfecting this invention 
over one million dollars were spent, but the 
result was at length attained, and one ma- 
chine was able to do the work of eight men 
and do it more perfectly. The works of 
the I. L. Ellwood Manufacturing Company 
are very extensive, the capacity being about 
twenty-five car loads every ten hours, and 
in this establishment employment is fur- 
nished to about six hundred men. It is 
now consolidated with the American Steel 
& Wire Company. While others are also 
engaged in the manufacture of barbed wire, 
it is a widely recognized fact throughout the 
country that this industry owes its success- 
ful establishment to Mr. Ellwood. 

On the 27th of January, 1859, Mr. Ell- 
wood married Miss Harriet Miller, and they 
became the parents of four sons and three 
daughters, but two of the sons are now de- 
ceased. Those living are William L. , Mrs. 
Dr. Mayo, Mrs. J. H. Lewis, Mrs. B. F. 
Ray and E. P. Ellwood. 

Although a stanch Republican in his po- 
litical views, Mr. Ellwood has always de- 
clined to accept political office, save that 
of alderman of his adopted city, in which 
capacity he served his fellow townsmen for 
a time. He has always taken great inter- 
est in the promulgation of the principles of 
the party, and in the annual meetings of 
its representative men in Illinois he is 
always invited and his advice is listened to 
with interest, and his views meet with gen- 
eral acceptance. While refusing office, he 
was, however, appointed upon the staff of 
Governor Tanner, with the rank of colonel, 



30 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and is now serving in that position. There 
is no more progressive or pubHc-spirited 
citizen in De Kalb county, and he with- 
holds his support from no movement or en- 
terprise tending to advance the public good. 
In securing for De Kalb the Northern Illi- 
nois State Normal, Colonel Ellvvood gave 
much time and attention, spending weeks 
at the state capitol, using his influence with 
legislators in securing the passage of the 
bill creating the institution, and its location 
at De Kalb. In 1896, a bill was passed 
by the general assembly of the state, ap- 
propriating seventy-five thousand dollars to 
the buildings, and in 1898, one appropria- 
ing fifty thousand dollars. In addition to 
this the city of De Kalb gave seventy thou- 
sand dollars. By the governor he was ap- 
pointed a trustee of the school, and is now 
serving as such. While others were work- 
ing for the same object, it is due him the 
greater share of credit for securing such a 
noble institution. 

Colonel Ellwood is a charitable and be- 
nevolent man, one of broad humanitarian 
principles, who regards not lightly his duty 
to his fellow men. He has climbed steadily 
upwards, and all the time he has had a 
hand reaching down to assist others less 
fortunate. Always ready to encourage in- 
dustry and energy, his employees know that 
faithful service means promotions as oppor- 
tunity offers. He has won for himself very 
favorable comment for the careful and sys- 
tematic methods he has followed in business. 
He realized the intrinsic value of minor as 
well as greater opportunities, has ever stood 
ready to take advantage of circumstances, 
and even mold adverse conditions until 
they serve his ends, and in all relations has 
maintained an unassailable reputation for 
integrity and honor. 



GEORGE G. LEWIS, a teacher of 
music in Sycamore, Illinois. He was 
born in the village of Cortland, De Kalb 
county, Illinois, June 30, 1864. His father, 
Dr. George W. Lewis, was born in Albion, 
Orleans county. New York, in 1832. He 
read medicine in Cincinnati, and latter at- 
tended the Miami Medical College. About 
1853 he came west, locating in Galena, Illi- 
nois, from which place he moved to Cort- 
land in 1856. He was a great student and 
investigator, and gave much time to private 
research. In his profession he was not 
bigoted, but adopted successful methods 
from every school of medicine. A method- 
ical man, he kept a diary from the time he 
was six years old until his death in 1895, 
in the Wesleyan hospital at Chicago, where 
he was being treated. For several years 
prior to his death he made his home with 
our subject. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, 
George Lewis, who married a Miss Ferry, 
was a farmer by occupation, and lived many 
years near Flint, Michigan, where he died 
at a good old age. The maternal grand- 
father, Littlefield, attained the age of one 
hundred and three years, and at that age 
performed on a violincello, on which instru- 
ment he was a fine musician. He was with 
General Washington at Valley Forge and 
acted as one of his body guards. 

Dr. George W. Lewis married Miss Julia 
Teachout, born in Royalton, Ohio, near 
Cleveland in 1833, and who died in De- 
Kalb county, in 1892. She was the daugh- 
ter of John and Lydia (Throop) Teachout, 
the former a native of New Amsterdam, 
New York, who was an old-fashion herb 
doctor, and an expert in the use of nature's 
remedies. Many of his formulas have since 
been used by practicing physicans. The 



The biographical record. 



3t 



Throop family were early settlers of Chi- 
cago, locating there when the place was 
more than a village. Throop street was 
named in honor of one of the family. John 
Teachout was a son of John Teachout, 
senior, who in early colonial days took up a 
tract of land where New Amsterdam, New 
York, now stands. 

Willi the exception of a short time in 
Cincinnati, while an infant, and two years 
when his parents resided in Michigan, our 
subject lived in Cortland, until the age of 
sixteen. He attended the public schools of 
Cortland, until that age, after which he 
went to Evanston, where he took a course 
in the Northwestern University, and later 
one at Oberlin, Ohio. At the age of sev- 
enteen he began the teaching of music, 
having made a study of it for several years. 
He later attended the Cincinnati College 
of Music, perfecting himself in his profes- 
sion. He also took private lessons under 
the best musicians in Chicago. For a 
number of years he traveled through many 
of the states in the union, teaching on the 
way. He has made five or six trips to 
California and Oregon, and traveled all 
along the Pacific coast. In 1889, he came 
to Sycamore, taking charge of the musical 
department of Waterman Hall. 

George G. Lewis was married in Dixon, 
Illinois, August I, 1 888, to Miss Harriet C. 
Chapell, a native of South Grove township, 
De Kalb county, Illinois, and a daughter of 
Enoch and Sarah (Winchell) Chapell. By 
this union there is one child, Gertrude, a 
bright little miss of two years. Mr. Lewis 
is of an inventive turn of mind, and among 
other inventions is an appliance for turning 
music with foot while both hands are play- 
ing; also an appliance for watering poultry, 
by which the water is kept fresh and clean. 



The most important invention, however, is a 
machine for re-insulating electric wires that 
have become weatherworn, without remov- 
ing from the poles. With his partner, 
William A. Buehl, he is now making practi- 
cal use of the invention. Politically the Pro- 
fessor is a Republican, and fraternally a Ma- 
son, holding membership with the blue lodge 
and chapter at Sycamore. 



EDWARD I. BOIES, of the firm of Van 
Galder & Boies, publishers of the True 
Republican, Sycamore, Illinois, is a native 
of the city, born February 19. i860, and is 
the son of Henry L. and Harriets. (Holmes) 
Boies, the former a native of South Hadley, 
Massachusetts, born July 5, 1830, and the 
latter a native of Sherburne, New York, and 
the daughter of Alexander and Margaret 
(Rumrill) Holmes. They were married at 
Springfield, Massachusetts, February 9, 
1858, and became the parents of three chil- 
dren — Edward I., our subject; Charles Ar- 
temas, who is engaged in the practice of law 
at Del\alb, Illinois; and Lucy M., who was 
born in Sycamore, Illinois, February. 1865. 
She received her early education in the 
Sycamore schools, graduating from the high 
school at the age of sixteen years. She 
taught school in the country for a few terms, 
then attended Oberlin College. She after- 
wards was employed as teacher in Syca- 
more schools. In 1888 she went on a pleas- 
ure trip to the Bahama islands. The winter 
of 1891-92 she spent in study and travel in 
Europe. In June of the latter year she re- 
turned home where she remained until the 
fall of last year when, upon the advice of 
physicians, she went to California. In spite 
of the most assiduous care and attention of 
her devoted mother, and the efforts of the 



32 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



best medical talent, she continued to grow 
weaker until death ended her suffering Fri- 
day, August 9, 1895, at Passadena. 

The paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, Artemas Boies, was born in Blandford, 
Massachusetts, in 1792. He was a minis- 
ter in the Congregational church, and after 
a useful life of fifty-three years, died Sept- 
ember 20, 1845. The family are of French 
origin, and were among the Huguenots who 
were driven from their native land into 
Scotland, and who came to this country 
about 1680. Henry L. Boies grew to man- 
hood in his native state, and in 1854 came 
DeKalb county, Illinois, and engaged in 
agricultural pursuits in South Grove town- 
ship. In 1858 he located at Sycamore, 
where he purchased a small farm, which was 
afterwards surveyed and platted, and is 
known as Boies' Subdivision of Sycamore. 
He later became associated in the publica- 
tion of the True Republican, and in 1865, 
its editorial management passed into his 
hands. He continued with the paper as 
editor and publisher up to the time of his 
death, April 26, 1887. His widow is still 
living in Sycamore, where she is well known 
and highly respected, being an active mem- 
ber of the Congregational church. 

In politics Henry L. Boies was a stanch 
Republican from the organization of the 
party. During the administration of Pres- 
ident Hayes, he served as postmaster of 
Sycamore, and in 1870, was secretary of the 
Illinois state senate. He was very active 
and prominent in politics and an earnest 
worker for the party, ever ready to aid his 
friends. During his life in Sycamore, he 
was a prominent member of the Congrega- 
tional church and did much to strengthen 
that organization and build up the Master's 
cause. He was a man of literary tastes. 



and gave much attention to that kind of 
work. Among his literary productions was 
Boies' History of Delvalb County, published 
in 1868, a work of considerable merit, with 
much practical and statistical information. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
Sycamore, receiving his education in its 
public schools, and at Todd's Seminary, 
Woodstock, Illinois. Later he attended 
the business college at Jacksonville, Illi- 
nois, in which he received a good busi- 
ness training. In 1880 he entered the 
office of the True Republican as a print- 
er and reporter, and in 1S85 became a 
partner with his father in the publication of 
the paper. This partnership was continued 
until the death of the father, after which he 
carried on the paper alone for about one 
year, and then associated with himself F. 
O. Van Galder, and under the firm name 
of Van Galder & Boies, the publication of 
■ the paper has since been continued. 

The True Republican was founded in 
1857, and has always been an advocate of 
the principles of the Republican party. It 
was published as a weekly until 1868, when 
it was made a semi-weekly, since which 
time it has been issued regularly every 
"Wednesday and Saturday. The paper has 
a large circulation and is in a prosperous 
condition. While it makes party politics 
one of its principal issues, yet it. devotes 
more attention to local affairs, having its 
correspondents in almost every town and 
township in the county. In connection 
with the paper, the proprietors have a good 
job printing office, from which they turn 
out first-class work. 

In 1883 Mr. Boies was bill clerk for the 
state senate, and again in 1885, serving in 
a most acceptable manner. In 1884 he 
took a vacation from newspaper work, and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



33 



went to the Dakotas and took up a quarter- 
section of government land, remaining 
there about one year, in order that he 
might prove up his claim. On returning 
home he settled down to his work, in which 
he has continued to the present time. He 
is now serving as alderman of the second 
ward, being elected in 1897. In all mat- 
ters pertaining to the public welfare, Mr. 
Boies takes an especially active interest, 
rendering all the aid in his power, person- 
ally and through the paper with which he 
is connected. 



JOHN MULLINS resides on section 18, 
Sliabbona township, where he owns and 
operates a farm of two hundred and forty 
acres, while owning another farm of one 
hundred and fifty-four acres in the same 
township, both being highly improved 
places. He is a native of Yorkshire, Eng- 
land, born October 4, 1844, and is the son 
of Robert MuUins, also a native of England, 
born in 181 1, and who grew to manhood 
and there married Sarah Ulyett, who was 
born in Yorkshire. By occupation Robert 
Mullins was a farmer in Yorkshire, and was 
engaged in agricultural pursuits in that 
shire for some years. In 1852 he emigrated 
to the United States, taking passage on a 
steamer, the Sarah Sands, an English ves- 
sel, and was fifteen days in crossing the At- 
lantic. Landing at New York, he came 
directly west to Buffalo, by rail, and then 
by boat on the lakes to Chicago, and from 
Chicago to Aurora, by rail, that being as far 
west as the railroads then extended. From 
Aurora he came with teams to Shabbona, 
where he joined some English friends who 
had located there the previous year. Rob- 
ert Mullins purchased one hundred and sixty 



acres on section 17, erected a small house 
and at once commenced to improve his 
farm. He later bought one hundred and 
sixty acres, and from time to time made 
other purchases of land until he owned over 
five hundred acres of the most productive 
land in Shabbona township. He continued 
to reside upon his farm until his death, in 
February, 1886, at the age of seventy-five 
years. He was twice married, his first wife 
dying in 1858, when he subsequently mar- 
ried an English lad}', who survives him, and 
now resides near Manchester, England. He 
was the father of six sons and one daughter 
who grew to mature years. Mary, the eld- 
est born, is now the wife of Septimus Story, 
of whom mention is made elsewhere in this 
work. George is a substantial farmer of 
Willow Creek township, Lee county. John 
is the subject of this review. Robert is a 
farmer residing in Wright county, Iowa. 
William and Henry also reside in Iowa. 
Thomas resides south of Chicago. 

John Mullins came to the United States 
when a lad of eight years, and in opening 
up and developing the home farm he ren- 
dered what assistance he could. He had 
but limited school advantages in early life, 
but is now a well informed man. He en- 
listed, August 13, 1862, in Company E, One 
Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
try, under Colonel Dustin,the regiment being 
assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. 
He participated in the battles of Resaca, 
Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Mariet- 
ta, Georgia, and Peach Tree Creek. In the 
latter engagement he received a gunshot 
wound in the left arm, which permanentlj' 
disabled him, the arm being broken. He 
still carries the lead, which was never ex- 
tracted. After being in the hospital for a 
time, in October, 1864, he received a fur- 



34 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lough and came home. While here he cast 
his first presidential ballot for Abraham 
Lincoln. In the winter following he re- 
joined his regiment at Blackville, South 
Carolina, and was later in a few skirmishes. 
He was at Raleigh, North Carolina, where 
Johnson surrendered to Sherman. Later 
he participated in the grand review at Wash- 
ington, and was there discharged June 17, 
1865, and was paid off at Camp Fry, Chi- 
cago, about two weeks later. 

Returning home, he went to work on 
the farm, and remained with his father 
until 1869, when, in Shabbona township, 
October 12, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Martha R. Nicholson, a native of 
Ohio, but of English parentage. Her fa- 
ther, Rev. William Nicholson, a minister 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, removed 
from Ohio to Indiana, and later to Illinois, 
where Mrs. Mullins was mostly reared and 
educated. By this union were si.x children, 
five daughters and one son. Clara is the 
wife of Henry Longford, a farmer of Lee 
county. Anna is the wife of Thomas Fair- 
cloth, a farmer of Shabbona -township. 
Gertrude, Cora, Grace and Elmer Howard 
reside at home. 

Immediately after marriage, Mr. and 
Mrs. Mullins commenced their domestic life 
on the southeast corner of the farm on 
which they now reside. Mr. Mullins first 
purchased fifty acres, and later one hun- 
dred and si.xty acres of his father, compris- 
ing the home place, and there resided for 
some years. In 1892, he built on section 
18 the house in which they now live. No 
farm in the township shows better improve- 
ment, and Mr. Mullins has the reputation 
of being a No. i farmer. Politically he is a 
stanch Republican, and has served three 
consecutive ternis as one of the highway 



commissioners. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the West Shabbona Methodist Epis- 
copal church, of which he is trustee and 
steward. He has been connected with the 
Sunday school and has been its superin- 
tendent for nearly a quarter of a century. 
Fraternally he is a Mason, a member of 
Shabbona Lodge, and is also an Ancient 
Odd Fellow. His long-continued residence 
in De Kalb county has made for him many 
warm friends. 



PHILO FERNANDO SLATER is the 
owner of a fine farm of one hundred 
and sixty-seven acres, a part of which lies 
within the village limits of Hinckley. He 
was born in Sugar Grove, Kane county, 
Illinois, July 24, 1853, and came to De 
Kalb county with his father, Philo Slater, 
in 1854. Philo Slater was a native of New 
York, born in Tompkins county, in 1824, 
while his grandfather, Thomas Slater, was 
a native of Connecticut. The family are 
of English descent, the first of the name 
locating in Connecticut at a very early dfty. 
Thomas Slater was a soldier in the war of 
1S12, and was an officer of the state militia. 
From Connecticut he moved to Tompkins 
county. New York, and in 1837 came to 
Illinois, and located iri Sugar Grove town- 
ship, Kane county, where he engaged in 
farming. Philo Slater at that time was 
only thirteen years of age. He there grew 
to manhood and married Sallie Nichols, a 
native of Chenango county, New York, and 
a daughter of Cyrus C. Nichols, who was 
an early settler of Kane county. After his 
marriage, Philo Slater engaged in farming 
for five years in Kane count}', and in 1854 
came to De Kalb county, and purchased a 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres, adjoin- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



35 



ing the present village of Hinckley, a par- 
tially improved place. Later he purchased 
one hundred and seventy-three acres adjoin- 
ing, making the home farm comprise three 
hundred and thirty-three acres, in addition to 
which he became the owner of two small 
farms near Hinckley. He was recognized 
as one of the most enterprising and practical 
farmers of De Kalb county. Politically, he 
was a Republican from the organization of 
the party, having in 1856 voted for John C. 
Fremont, its first presidential candidate. 
He took an active part in local politics, and 
for years served as supervisor of Squaw 
Grove township, and also held other offices 
of honor and trust. He was a man of good 
habits, and a strong temperance man. He 
died on his home farm, March 28, 1894. 
He was twice married, his first wife dying 
in 1884, and he later married Miss Maria 
Severance, who still survives him. By his 
first wife, he was the father of the following 
named children: Cyrus, a farmer of Squaw 
Grove township; Mary S. , wife of Albert 
G. White, of Idaho; Philo F. , the subject 
of this sketch; Sarah, who grew to woman- 
hood and died single at the age of twenty- 
one years; and Eva, wife of Elmer Benton, 
who resides in Hinsdale, Illinois. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood on the home farm, and received a 
good common-school education. He was 
married June 4, 1879, to Miss Alice J. 
Sebree, a daughter of W. M. Sebree, whose 
sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. 
By this union there are two children, Roy 
M. and Elva E. After marriage he located 
on a part of the old place, which he culti- 
vated for several years. After his father's 
death he and his brother, Cyrus, bought 
out the heirs, arid succeeded to the old 
homestead, which they divided equally be- 



tween them. Since coming into possession 
of the place he has greatly improved it, and 
has now one of the most valuable farms in 
Squaw Grove township. 

In connection with his farming Mr. 
Slater has been engaged for some years in 
the sheep business, and has the largest flock 
of recorded pure-blood Shropshire sheep in 
De Kalb county. His flock now consists of 
about one hundred and fifty head. His 
reputation as a breeder and dealer in these 
sheep extends throughout the whole coun- 
try. Politically he is a thoroughbred Re- 
publican, casting his first presidential ballot 
for R. B. Hayes in 1876. He has taken an 
active part in local politics, and has served 
on the county central committee for several 
years, and has been chairman of the town- 
ship committee. As a delegate he has 
attended various conventions of his party, 
and has always exerted a good influence. 
He and his wife attend the Methodist 
Episcopal church at Hinckley, and frater- 
nally he is a member of the Modern Wood- 
men of America. 



ROBERT DUFFEY is a retired farmer 
residing in the city of De Kalb, where 
he is now enjoying the fruits of a life of 
toil. He was born in Coshocton county, 
Ohio, in 1830, and is the son of James and 
Belle Duffey, the former being a prosperous 
farmer of Coshocton county. In 1844, 
accompanied by his family, James Duffey 
came to De Kalb county, Illinois, and pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in De Kalb township, which he placed un- 
der a high state of cultivation, and which 
was his home during the remainder of his 
life. After a somewhat uneventful but use- 
ful life, his death occurred in 1872. He 



36 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was highly respected as a citizen, beloved 
as a husband and honored as a father. 

Robert is the second son in a family of 
eight children, and was fourteen years of 
age when with his father he removed to 
De Kalb county, Illinois. He lived with 
his father, assisting in the cultivation of the 
farm, and attending the district schools as 
opportunity offered him, until he reached his 
majorit}', when he was employed by J. M. 
Goodell, who was then engaged in mer- 
cantile business at De Kalb. He remained 
with Mr. Goodell two years, and then pur- 
chased a threshing machine, which he run 
for several years in connection with farm- 
ing. In 1855 he removed to Storey 
county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm 
of one hundred and seventy-two acres, 
and there remained engaged in its cultiva- 
tion for two years. Returning to DeKalb 
county, he remained here two years, en- 
gaged in farming, after which he removed to 
California, in 1859. He had a similar ex- 
perience to all other gold seekers, who took 
the overland route by ox teams to the New 
Eldorado. In California he engaged in 
handling and hauling freight, using horses 
and mules as locomotive power. He there 
remained five years, meeting with fair suc- 
cess. 

After his return to De Kalb, in 1864, Mr. 
Duffey engaged in the livery business, which 
he followed for four years. He then pur- 
chased eighty acres of land which he im- 
proved, and sold at an advance in price. 
He next speculated in city property, which 
has grown on his hands to a phenomenal 
extent. At present he is living a retired 
life, as the result of former activity and 
push. 

On the twentieth of February, 1865, 
Mr. Duffey was united in marriage with 



Miss Ellen M. Fox, daughter of P. L. Fox, 
and by this union were born seven children, 
six of whom are living, and who have each 
received a good education. 

In politics Mr. Duffey is a Democrat, 
and was honored by his fellow-citizens with 
various town offices, including road com- 
missioner, which office he held for three 
years, and was trustee for nine years. He 
is highly respected in the city of De Kalb, 
of which he is a loyal and patriotic citizen. 



DANIEL PIERCE. — Success in any line 
of occupation, in any avenue of busi- 
ness, is not a matter of spontaneity, but is a 
legitimate offspring of the proper use of the 
means at hand, the improvement of oppor- 
tunity, and the exercise of the highest func- 
tions made possible in any case. Young 
men in the past have often been deterred 
from devoting themselves to a business life 
because of the widespread impression that 
such a life yields no opportunity for the dis- 
play of genius. The time, however, has 
gone by when, other things being equal, the 
business man must take a secondary place 
to the lawyer, the doctor, the minister or 
the editor. In fact, as a rule, let the busi- 
ness man be equally well-equipped by edu- 
cation and natural endowment, and you will 
find him to-day in every community, exert- 
ing a wider influence and wielding a larger 
power than a man of equal capacity in other 
walks of life. The men of affairs have 
come to be in a large degree the men upon 
whom the country leans. The subject of 
this sketch is pre-eminently a man of affairs. 
Daniel Pierce was born in the town of 
Neversink, Sullivan county. New York, July 
18, 1 8 14, and is the son of Joseph and 
Elizabeth (Cargill) Pierce. His father was 




DANIEL PIERCE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



39 



a native of Westchester county, New York, 
and when fifteen years of age went to Sulli- 
van county, where his marriage with Eliza- 
beth Cargill was solemnized. They became 
the parents of six children — William, Polly, 
John, Daniel, Penelope and Catherine. He 
died in March, 1819, at the age of thirty- 
one years, and his widow, three years later, 
married Edward Porter. 

When our subject was but twelve years 
of age, he commenced hfe for himself, work- 
ing for three dollars per month for the first 
seven months. His education was very 
limited, for the reason that he was thrown 
upon his own resources at such a tender 
age. But there was in him the making of 
a man. He toiled early and late, working 
for others until he attained his majority, 
when he began working a farm on his own 
account. He worked during the summers, 
and in the winters worked for his board 
while going to school. He was married De- 
cember 17, 1835, to Miss Phebe J. Brund- 
age, a native of Orange county. New York, 
born August 17, 1818, and a daughter of 
Abijah and Sarah (Lane) Brundage. Her 
father, who was born April 23, 1781, was 
by occupation a farmer, and during the war 
of 1 81 2 served as a soldier. He died in 
Sullivan county, April 23, 1850. His wife 
was born September 23, 1786, and died Oc- 
tober 21, 1837. Abijah Brundage was the 
son of John and Martha (Ogden) Brundage, 
the former born February 12, 1733, and 
died February 9, 1796. The latter born 
December 10, 1738, died October 28, 1799. 
To our subject and wife three children were 
born, the first dying in infancy. Eleanor is 
now the widow of A. W. Townsend. Sarah 
married G. P. Wild, cashier of the banking 
house of Daniel Pierce & Company. She 
died June 11, 1896. Mrs. Pierce died Oc- 



tober 4, 1 876, leaving many friends to mourn 
her loss. 

Alter his marriage, Mr. Pierce operated 
the old homestead for four years, and then 
purchased the lease of a farm in a different 
locality, which he operated five years, and 
upon a third farm he remained until 1848, 
when he purchased the titles of three farms 
in Sullivan county. New York, including the 
old homestead. From there he removed 
to Deming, Ulster county. New York, and 
purchased an interest in a tannery where 
he remained two years. The desire was 
in him, however, to increase his worldly 
possessions more rapidly than he could in 
the east, and he therefore determined on 
coming to Illinois, where the opportunities 
for advancement were much greater. Ac- 
cordingly, in 1855, he sold the greater 
part of his possessions in his native county, 
and came to De Kalb county, where he 
rented a farm in Mayfield township for 
one year. In 1856, he removed to the city 
of Sycamore and engaged in the real estate 
business, buying and selling both improved 
and unimproved farms. He continued in 
that business exclusively until 1867, when 
the banking house of Pierce, Dean & Com- 
pany was established, of which he took the 
active management. The firm name was 
changed in 1871, to Pierce & Dean, and in 
1883 to Daniel Pierce & Company. Until 
1888 Mr. Pierce had the active manage- 
ment of his bank, but on account of im- 
paired health, he is now practically living a 
retired life. During the past ten years he 
has devoted his time principally to his Iowa 
interests. 

For more than forty years Mr. Pierce 
has ranked among the ablest financiers of 
northern Illinois. Successful beyond even 
his own highest expectations, he has added 



40 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to his possessions until he is the owner of 
many large and productive farms in De 
Kalb county, and several thousand acres in 
Iowa and other western states. The bank- 
ing house so long managed by him has al- 
ways been regarded as one of the safest 
financial institutions in the state, and this 
confidence in the soundness of the bank has 
been brought about by his well-known con- 
servative character and strict integrity. 
While as stated, his early education was 
limited, \et by reading and observation he 
became well informed, and his judgment of 
men and affairs, especially as affecting finan- 
cial interests, has been almost infallible. 
He always knew when to buy and when to 
sell a piece of real estate, and the tiuctua- 
tions in the money market were generally 
foreseen by him. His word was always 
kept inviolate and a promise made by him 
was fulfilled to the letter. 



PROF. FREDERICK BRINK BETTIS 
is a musician whose skill and ability is 
acknowledged by all. Since 1893 he has 
made his home in Sycamore, but has classes 
in music in man\' of the surrounding towns. 
He was born in Lacon, Marshall county, 
Illinois, December 5, 1853, and is the son 
of John W. and Sarah A. (Brink) Bettis, 
the former a native of Montreal, Canada, 
and the latter born at Saugerties, on the 
Hudson, opposite the old Robert Livingston 
manor. They were the parents of seven 
sons and three daughters, of whom three 
sons and one daughter survive. Two of 
the sons served during the war of the 
rebellion. By trade the father was an 
architect and builder, and for some years 
resided in Kingston, New York, from which 
place he moved to Lacon, Illinois, in the 



early fifties. In that place he engaged in 
the lumber business, and also had a large 
farm near the city, on which he resided. 
His wife dying in 1856, he later went to 
California, where he remained seventeen 
years, then returned to the residence of a 
son in Kansas, where his death occurred in 
1888. His father, the grandfather of our 
subject, was one of the Revolutionary heroes. 
The mother of our subject dying when 
he was three years of age, he went to live 
with relatives, but being of an independent 
turn of mind, at the age of ten years he 
began supporting himself. He attended 
school until the age of fifteen, working on 
farms during the summer months for his 
board and clothes, and part of the time for 
the opportunity of attending school. At 
the age of fifteen he commenced to learn 
the painters' trade, and during the time 
thus employed was studying music, which 
he intended to make his profession. After 
ten years he began the study of vocal music 
with C. E. Leslie, a well-known Chicago 
author and teacher of music, and with him 
traveled for ten years, over nearly a score of 
states, singing at conventions and musical 
gatherings. He traveled eight months in 
the year, and during the remainder of the 
time he perfected himself in his chosen 
profession. He spent several seasons in 
the New England Conservatory of Music, 
in Boston, and took private lessons there at 
Professor H. E. Holt's Normal School for 
Trained Teachers, for public-school work. 
In 1888 he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, 
and there remained two years, engaged in 
teaching music in its public schools. In 
1S90 he moved to Chicago, and taught 
music in the schools of South Evanston. 
\\'hile residing there he frequently came to 
Sycamore to give lessons to the pupils in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



41 



the public schools, and in 1893 he took up 
his residence in this city. He gives special 
attention to vocal culture and harmony, 
and has private pupils in Creston, Malta, 
Genoa, Kingston and other places. He 
takes great interest in musical conventions, 
and often reads papers before them on 
musical topics. 

Professor Bettis was married in Austin, 
a suburb of Chicago, December 27, 1890, 
to Miss Blanche Bentley, born in Chagrin 
Falls, Ohio, and a daughter of Martin 
Bentley, a native of Warren, Ohio, who 
moved to Boone county, Illinois, and was 
one of the forty-niners of California, where 
he engaged in farming a number of years. 
With two companions, he engaged a man 
to take them across the plains in a wagon, 
each of them paying one hundred dollars in 
advance. At Omaha the man deserted 
them, and all three walked across the 
plains and mountains to the land of gold. 
Returning later to Ohio, he remained a 
short time, and then removed to Austin, 
Illinois, where he died. 

In politics Professor Bettis is a stanch 
Republican, although he gives little atten- 
tion to political affairs. Fraternally he is a 
Mason, holding membership with the blue 
lodge at Sycamore. 



GEORGE D. BENTLY, dealer in real 
estate and loans, De Kalb, Illinois, 
was born in Poughkeepsie, Duchess county. 
New York, in 1825. He is the son of John 
and Cornelia Bently. John Bently was a 
shoemaker, but in middle life gave up the 
trade to follow agricultural pursuits. In 
1834 he removed to the city of Auburn, 
New York, where he passed away at the 
advanced age of ninety- four years. 



George D. Bently, the subject of this 
sketch, emigrated to Illinois in 1854. locat- 
ing in De Kalb, De Kalb county, on the 
same place where he now resides. In his 
early life in De Kalb he was busily en- 
gaged in the grain, lumber and coal busi- 
ness, at which he continued for thirteen 
years. At the expiration of that time he 
began to deal in real estate and loans, and 
little by little worked himself into the busi- 
ness. 

In 1854 Mr. Bently was married to Miss 
Ada E. Brown, daughter of F. W. Brown, 
by whom he had si.\ children, four of whom 
are now living. Frank W. is a conductor 
on the Northwestern Railroad, and has been 
employed by that road for the past twenty 
years. Chester is secretary of the Cripple 
Creek Mining Company. Fred is foreman 
for the Omaha Packing Company. Jesse is 
yardmaster at Tracy. Mrs. Ada E. Bently 
died in 1870, and he married for his second 
wife Miss Jennie Streubly, in 1878. To 
this union have been born two children, 
George D. and Ada E. The latter is pos- 
sessed of. more than ordinary intelligence, a 
fine musician and an accomplished elocu- 
tionist. 

Mr. Bently has never, strange to relate, 
advertised, nor does he have an office; 
when his patrons want land or money, they 
find him without difficulty. While he is 
getting along in years, Mr. Bently is not 
above doing a day's work that any other 
laboring man can accomplish. By his in- 
dustrial habits and his close application to 
the golden rule, he has accumulated a nice 
fortune. He owns several houses in addi- 
tion to his other city property. He is a plain, 
honest, unassuming man, whom his fellow 
citizens highly respect. Among the various 
local offices with which he has been hon- 



42 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ored, was that of city commissioner, hold- 
ing it for several years. He was also a 
member of the Board of Health for a period 
of ten years. 



"I X nLLIAM VON OHLEN, now living a 
V V retired life in the village of Hinckley, 
was for nearly thirty years an active and 
enterprising farmer of De Kalb county. He 
is a native of Germany, born in the Duke- 
dom of Brunswick, May 14, 1843. His 
father. Christian H. Von Ohlen, was a 
native of the same place, born in 1798. 
He there grew to manhood and married 
Johanna Borneman, also a native of Ger- 
many. He was a mechanic and carried on 
a manufacturing business for some years. 
His ability was recognized by his fellow 
citizens, and he served in the legislature 
of his native country. In 1855, he came to 
the United States, and arrived at Sand- 
wich, De Kalb count)-, October 30, and 
first located on a farm near that place, and 
later moved to the town of Victor, and 
lived a retired life. He died in 1880, at the 
age of eighty- two years. His wife survived 
him two years, dying in 1882. They were 
the parents of four sons and three daugh- 
ters, who grew to mature years. Louis 
grew to manhood, married and died at the 
age of thirty-nine years, leaving a wife and 
five children. Christian is a farmer of De 
I\alb county, and a well-to-do and substan- 
tial citizen. Mrs. Christian Bale resides in 
Hinckley, where her husband is living a re- 
tired life. Mrs. Henry Thoerel, with her 
husband, is living retired in the village of 
Hinckley. Henry lives a retired life in the 
village of Somonauk. William and Mrs. 
Boiler reside in Hnickley. 

William Von Ohlen came to De Kalb 



county, Illinois, when but twelve years of 
age. His education, began in the old coun- 
try, was completed in the schools of Victor 
township, where the family resided. In 
September. i86r, he showed his loyalty to 
his adopted country by enlisting in Com- 
pany B, Thirty-Sixth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, which was sent to Rolla, Missouri, 
soon after being mustered into the service. 
He there participated in the battle of Pea 
Ridge. With his regiment he was in the 
siege of Corinth, the battles of Perryville, 
Kentucky, and Stone River. He was 
wounded at Pea Ridge, being shot through 
the abdomen, and at Stone River was shot 
through both thighs, and permanently dis- 
abled. He was sent to the hospital at 
Nashville, Tennessee, and later at Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, and was discharged from 
the service May 13, 1864. 

Returning home, Mr. Von Ohlen was 
unable to work to any extent for some 
years. When able he first rented a farm 
for two years, and then purchased a place 
in the township of Victor, comprising sev- 
enty-five acres. Removing to that farm, he 
began its further development, and there 
remained until 1874, when he sold out and 
purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres, a fairly well improved place in Squaw 
Grove township. On this farm he moved 
his family and there resided for some years. 
He later built a good house, barn and other 
out buildings, making of it one of the best 
farms in the township. To the original 
farm he added eighty acres, all of which he 
improved, and during his residence there he 
engaged in general farming and dairy busi- 
ness. In 1893, he rented his place to his 
son and purchased a residence in the village 
of Hinckley, a neat and comfortable home 
where he is now living retired. In addi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



43 



tion to his farm of two hundred and forty 
acres, he also owns another well improved 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres. 

At Pierceville, Illinois, September i, 
1867, Mr. Von Ohlen married Miss Mary 
Roth, a native of Germany, who came to the 
United States a child of six years with her 
father, Henry Roth, who is now one of the 
substantial farmers of Pierce township, a hale 
and hearty man of eighty-five years. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Von Ohlen four children have been 
born as follows: Amelia C, now the wife 
of Edward Ramer, a farmer of Squaw Grove 
township; Arvet H., who is married and 
carrying on the old home farm; Alta A. and 
Veda May, who are attending the high 
school at Hinckley, Illinois. Mrs. Von 
Ohlen, who was a worthy and consistent 
member of the Evangelical church, died 
October 28, 1894. 

Politically Mr. Von Ohlen is a stanch 
Republican, being reared in the faith of that 
party, and with which he has been identified 
ever since he cast his first ballot in 1864 
for Abraham Lincoln. He was elected and 
served as commissioner of highways for 
twelve years, and has also served as town- 
ship trustee and school trustee, and is yet 
filling the latter office. In 1894 he was 
elected supervisor of Squaw Grove town- 
ship, re-elected in 1896, and also in 1S98, 
and is now serving his third term. He has 
made a valuable member of the board, serv- 
ing on several important committees, in- 
cluding the finance committee, equalization 
of personal property, and of fees and salaries, 
being chairman of the latter committee. 
Religiously he is a member of the Evangeli- 
cal church, and fraternally he is a Mason, 
and also a member of Aurora Post, No. 20, 
G. A. R. For forty-three years he has been 
a resident of De Kalb county, and has wit- 



nessed its wonderful growth, contributing 
his full share to its development. He is 
well and favorably known throughout the 
county, and no man stands higher in the 
estimation of his fellow citizens. 



PATRICK BROCK, a farmer by occu- 
pation, but who is now living a retired 
life in the city of De Kalb, was born in 
Dublin, Ireland, December 13, 1830. In 
the winter of 1842, when but a lad of 
twelve, he immigrated to the United States, 
locating in New York, where he engaged in 
stage driving. After residing there three 
years, he removed to New Jersey, where he 
was engaged in the manufacture of white 
lead, remaining here until 1855, at which 
time he determined to come west, believing 
that a better chance for worldly success 
could be had in the then newly opened up 
states. On coming west he located in De 
Ivalb county, where he purchased eighty 
acres of land and at once commenced its 
improvement. As the country was new, 
the land wild and unimproved, Mr. Brock 
had a task before him. But like many of 
his countrymen in De Kalb county, he 
was anxious and determined to make for 
himself and family a comfortable home. 
By perseverance, industry and economy, 
Mr. Brock succeeded beyond all expecta- 
tions. He purchased more land, still more, 
adding acre to acre, while land was low, and 
at one time owned some four hundred and 
forty acres. When land took a boom in later 
years, Mr. Brock was ready to sell, and did 
sell at a great advance. Every dollar put 
out brought in at least two. After dispos- 
ing of his farm, he purchased property in the 
city of De Kalb, and is yet the owner of 
several houses in the city. 



44 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Brock was married April 26, 1851, 
to Miss Catherine Fitzpatrick, also a native 
of Ireland, and a most estimable lady, and 
and to them were born eight children, five 
of whom are yet living, and are an honor 
to the parents who reared them. Their 
names are Mary Ann, Bridget, Elizabeth, 
Agnes and Lawrence. Mrs. Brock passed 
from this life September 11, 1894, and her 
death was greatly mourned by a large circle 
of friends. She was a consistent member 
of the Roman Catholic church, of which 
her husband and family are also members. 
Politically Mr. Brock is a democrat, and 
has supported that party since becoming a 
naturalized citizen. He is a man much 
respected by his fellow-citizens, because 
of his many sterling qualities of head and 
heart. 

CHARLES O. BOYNTON, of Sycamore, 
Illinois, is a self-made man in the best 
sense of the term. The family are of Eng- 
lish descent, but were probably descendants 
of the Norman-French in earlier generations. 
The earliest member of tlie family known in 
England was Bartholomew de Boj'nton, of 
Boynton, lord of the manor, in 1607. As 
the name would indicate Norman-French 
origin, it is more than likely that some of 
the ancestors came over with William the 
Conquerer. The family is extensive in 
England, where some of its members for 
many generations have held positions of 
honor and trust. The first of the name in 
America were William and John Boynton, 
who came from Yorkshire, England, in 
1638, one settling in Massachusetts and the 
other in Vermont. Our subject is a de- 
scendant of the latter. 

Of the immediate ancestors, Abraham 
Boynton, grandfather of our subject, is the 



earliest of whom anything definitely is 
known. He was probably born in Vermont, 
where it is known that most of his life was 
spent. In 1828, he moved with his son 
John, to Tompkins county. New York, and 
there died at an advanced age. He mar- 
ried a Miss Marsh and became the father of 
twelve children, of whom John, the father 
of our subject, was born in the town of 
Rockingham, Windham county, Vermont, 
a short distance above Bellows Falls, July 
2, 1798. He there lived until 1828, when 
he removed to Tompkins count}'. New York. 
In early life he was a carpenter and joiner 
by trade, and although his school advantages 
were meager, he was possessed of a clear, 
strong mind, and was a great reader and 
student. Being of a thrifty disposition, he 
accumulated enough from the proceeds of 
his trade to enter upon mercantile pursuits 
in McLean, New York. Success crowned 
him in that work, and from his profits he 
purchased land and at the time of his death 
was possessed of large farming interests. 
By William H. Seward, who was then gov- 
ernor of New York, he was appointed judge 
of the circuit court, and served with distinc- 
tion. He was a man whose opinions had 
great weight with all who came in contact 
with him. His death occurred April 28, 
1869, at his home in Tompkins county. 
New York. He was twice married, his first 
union being with Elizabeth Davis, of Rock- 
ingham, Vermont, who was of a family 
known for their mental and bodily vigor, 
many of them being distinguished in profes- 
sional and business life. She was one of 
twelve children. One of the number served 
two terms as mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Betsy Davis, as she was called, was born in 
1797, and died in 1834, in the prime of life, 
leaving si.\ children, three of whom are yet 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



45 



living — diaries O., our subject; Laura Carr, 
of Jersey City; and Lydia Jarvis, of Elgin, 
Illinois. The father married a second time, 
Miss Ann Fitts, by whom two children were 
born, one surviving, Edward, now engaged 
in business in Sycamore. 

Charles O. Boynton was born in the town 
of Rockingham, Windham county, Vermont, 
July 19, 1826, and was but two years of 
age when his parents moved to Tompkins 
county, New York. He there grew to man- 
hood, and attended the district schools and 
the Homer Academy until the age of sixteen 
years. He remained at home assisting in 
the work of the farm, and also in the store 
at McLean, until he attained his majority. 
In September, 1847, he came west to Chi- 
cago, where he engaged in the mercantile 
business in his own name, although the 
store was partly owned by another person. 
Closing out his interests there, in February, 
1849, he came to Sycamore, where he 
opened a general store, and continued for 
three years. Seeing a better opportunity 
in financial fields, he secured funds in the 
east at the low rate of interest prevailing 
there, and loaned it in the west at a higher 
rate. He continued in that business for 
some twenty years, and by good manage- 
ment prospered beyond the usual success of 
men. In 1871 he engaged in the banking 
business, as a junior member of the firm of 
Divine & Boynton, but after one year sold 
his interest and has since been interested in 
land speculations. He now owns some 
sixty thousand acres of fine timber land in 
Arkansas, covered with hard wood timber, 
much of it being walnut. On his land, 
among other large trees, there is a black 
walnut tree eight feet in diameter. On 
the property he has lately erected a large 
mill, with the capacity of about twenty 



thousand feet, the lumber from which he 
sends to the best markets in the south and 
west. Also owns about fifteen thousand 
acres in Iowa, Minnesota, North and South 
Dakota and Kansas. He also owns some 
two thousand acres of fine farming land in 
northern Illinois, the garden spot of the 
Great Central Valley. 

Mr. Boynton was married in Ledyard, 
New York, November 26, 1S61, to Miss Lu- 
cetta P. Stark, daughter of Paul and Paul- 
ine (Billings) Stark, both of Tunkhannock, 
Pennsylvania, the latter being one of a fam- 
ily of ten children. Paul Stark vvas born in 
1802, and died in 1873, in Ledyard, New 
York, to which place he had removed on 
retiring from active life. The first Ameri- 
can ancestor was Aaron Stark, who resided 
near the head of Mystic river, and whose 
death occurred in New London, Connecti- 
cut, in 1685. He was first mentioned in 
Hartford, in 1639, and in Windsor, in 1643, 
and at Mystic, in 1653. He was elected 
freeman in 1666, at Stonington, Connecti- 
cut, and also at New London, Connecticut, 
in 1669. His son William, whose birth is 
not given, died Septembers, 1730. His son 
Christopher, the oldest of five children, 
lived in Dutchess county, New York, but 
moved to Wyoming Valley in 1769, and 
died in 1771. Christopher's son, William, 
moved from Dutchess county, and located 
on Tuckhannock creek, where he married 
Polly Carey, and died in 1795, but was 
buried at Joshua, New York. Nathan, son 
of William, father of Paul, was eldest of a 
family of eleven children. He was born 
December 24, 1768, and died May 23, 1837. 
He married Dorcas Dixon, by whom he 
had several children. After her death he 
married Rachel Hewett, but by this last 
marriage there was no issue. 



46 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



To Mr. and Mrs. Boynton four children 
have been born, one of whom died in in- 
fancy. Charles Douglass lately closed his 
bank in Carroll, Iowa, to take charge of the 
mills and lumber interests of his father, in 
Arkansas. Mary is the wife of Frederick 
B. Townsend, a sketch of whom appears 
elsewhere in this work. Elmer resides with 
his parents in Sycamore. 

Mr. Boynton was formerly a Mason and 
Odd Fellow, but has been dimitted from 
each order. In politics he is a Democrat, 
but independent of party lash, always refus- 
ing to give support to candidates not cred- 
itable to party. Under the old organization 
he served as chairman of the city board, 
and has been a member of the board of 
supervisors. Religiously Mrs. Boynton is a 
member of the Episcopal church. As a 
citizen, he is enterprising in all things, and 
as already stated, is truly a self-made man. 
He never received a dollar from his par- 
ents, although he was given the help of his 
father's credit in starting in business. All 
that he has was acquired by his own brain 
and energy, and his success has been mar- 
velous when compared with others who have 
started out in life well acquipded with funds, 
and given many opportunities. Few attain 
his success in material wealth. Mr. Boyn- 
ton has one of the finest residences and 
grounds in De Kalb county. He also built 
and presented to his daughter the house ad- 
joing the one in which he lives, and both 
together make a desirable addition to any 
community. 



HON. CHARLES A. BISHOP, judge 
of the sixteenth judicial circuit of Illi- 
nois, residing at Sycamore, takes rank 
among the ablest members of the bar in 



northern Illinois. Upright, reliable and 
honorable, his strict adherence to principle 
commands the respect of all. The place 
he has won in the legal profession is ac- 
corded him in recognition of his skill and 
ability, and the place he occupies in the 
social world is a tribute to that genuine 
worth and true nobleness of character 
which are universally recognized and hon- 
ored. 

He was born September 26, 1854, and 
is the son of Adolphus and Joanna (Wil- 
lett) Bishop. His father is a native of 
Kings county. Nova Scotia, born May 26, 
1829, and is the son of Gordon Bishop, 
also a native of Nova Scotia, who was a 
son of Captain William Bishop, Jr., who 
was a son of Captain William Bishop, Sr. , 
who was a son of John Bishop, Sr. John 
Bishop, Sr. , after the French were expelled 
from Nova Scotia, upon invitation of Gov- 
ernor Lawrence, was one of the colonists 
who took possession of the lands previously 
occupied by the French Canadians. Ac- 
cordingly many came from the British col- 
onies along the Atlantic shore to different 
parts of Nova Scotia, and John Bishop, Sr., 
was one of these men who came from Con- 
necticut to Horton, Nova Scotia, with his 
four sons, about the year 1762. His four 
sons who went with him from Connecticut 
were Colonel John Bishop, Captain William 
Bishop, Peter Bishop and Timothy Bishop. 

Gordon Bishop, the grandfather of our 
subject, was a farmer, and lived and died 
in Kings county, Nova Scotia. His wife 
was Louisa Oaks, by whom he had eight 
children: Eunice Ann, Mary Eliza, Adol- 
phus, Edward, James L., Allen, Ainsley 
and Charles A., all of whom are living ex- 
cept Eunice Ann, Edward and Charles A. 
Adolphus Bishop, the father of our sub- 




HON. CHARLES A. BISHOP. 



THIC B10(.RAPHICAL RECORD. 



•)9 



ject, is a farmer by occupation and is now 
living in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia. Joanna 
(Wiliett) Bishop, his wife, was born at An- 
napoHs, Nova Scotia, August 27, 1833. 
They were married al 'Horton, Nova Sco- 
tia, March 30, 1852. Adolphus Bishop was 
born May 26, 1829. Joanna died Novem- 
ber 3, 1861. Of that marriage were born 
Charles Alford Bishop, the subject of this 
sketch, David Averd Bishop and Franklin 
Wiliett Bishop. Franklin \\'illett Bishop 
died July 4, 1894. David A. is living at 
Truro, Nova Scotia. 

For his second wife Adolphus Bishop 
married Mary E. Wiliett, by whom he had 
two children, Ernest A. Bishop, who died 
in infancy, and Nellie May Bishop, who 
died December 1, 1896, at the age of twen- 
ty-one years. Mary E., the mother, died 
October 3, 1890. Adolphus Bishop mar- 
ried for his third wife Louise Faulkner. 
No issue of third marriage. 

Judge Charles A. Bishop, received his 
primary education in the j^ublic schools of 
Nova Scotia; attended the Academj' at 
Acadia, and from there went to the Acad- 
emy at Mt. Allison, Sackville, New 15runs- 
vvick, where he took a special course of 
three years. He then became principal of 
the high school at Sackville for a term of 
two years, at the end of which time he 
started for the west, locating at Sycamore, 
Illinois, June i, 1878; read law in the office 
of H. A. Jones and was admitted lo the 
bar in June, 1880. He then formed a part- 
nership with his preceptor, under the firm 
name of Jones & Bishop, which partnership 
was continued until October 19, 1886. In 
1886 Judge Bishop was a candidate before 
the Republican convention for the office of 
county judge of De Kalb county, but his 

nomination was defeated liv political com- 
3 



binations, when he ran as an independent 
candidate and was elected, receiving major- 
ities in fourteen of the eighteen townships 
of the county. In 1890 he was nominated 
by the Republican convention by acclama- 
tion for the same office and was re-elected. 
He was again nominated by acclamation in 
1894; was elected and served until 1897, 
when he resigned the office of county judge 
of De Kalb county, having been nomi- 
nated for circuit judge in the twelfth dis- 
trict February 3, 1897, After the judicial 
re-appointment he was re- nominated in 
May for the sixteenth district, which is com- 
posed of the counties of De Kalb, Kane, 
Du Page and Kendall, and elected in June 
following. 

Judge Bishop was married August 25, 
1880, to Parmelia, daughter of Major Evans 
and Martha (Smith) Wharry, of Sycamore. 
She was a nati\e of Sycamore, a graduate 
of Wellesley College, New York. She died 
.-\pril 13, 1889, her death being mourned by 
a large circle of friends. The Judge was 
again married November 25, 1890, to Mar- 
tha E. Stuart, daughter of Charles T. and 
Nancy D. (Hutchins) Stuart. Her father, 
Charles T. Stuart, was the son of Nathan 
and Roxanna (Phelps) Stuart, and was born 
April 13, 1819. He died October 13, 1892, 
leaving surviving him Nancy D. .Stuart, his 
widow, and Martha E. Stuart and Charles 
H. Stuart, his children. Nancy D. .Stuart 
was the daughter of Solomon and Nancy 
(Dillingham) Hutchins, and is the niece of 
ex-Governor Paul Dillingham, of \ermont. 
Nancy D. Stuart was born June 29, 1826, 
and is still living. 

The children of the second marriage of 
Judge Bishop are Stuart A., born August 21, 
1892, and Marian O., born January 7, 1896. 
Mrs. Bishop is a lady of culture and lefiue- 



so 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ment, domestic in her tastes, and much de- 
voted to her fainils'. The Judge and his 
wife attend the Congrejiational church. 

Fraternally the Judge is a member of 
Sycamore Lodge, No. 134, A. F. & A. M., 
Sycamore Chapter, No. 49, R. A. M., Syca- 
more Comniandery, No. 15, K. T., is a 
member of Medinah Temple, A. A. O., 
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is past 
high priest of Sycamore Chapter and past 
eminent commander of Sjcamore Com- 
mander}'; member of Sycamore Lodge, No. 
105, I. O. O. F. , of the Ellwood Encamp- 
ment of Odd Fellows, and also of the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America. 

Judge Bishop is the possessor of the 
sword worn by his great-grandfather. Cap- 
tain William Bishop, at the time he was 
captured by an American privateer in Minas 
Basin. Captain William, who was captain 
of a company of militia, when he saw the 
privateer coming up the bay, got some of 
his men together, manned a vessel that was 
faulty, and went out to give battle to the 
privateer. They were soon, however,' cap- 
tured and placed in the hold of the privateer 
in irons. Captain William, during the first 
night, succeeded in getting out of his irons 
and releasing his men, conceived the idea 
of capturing the crew of the privateer: 
being physically a giant in strength, he went 
on deck, followed by his crew armed with 
whatever they could get. Captain William 
grappled with the guard, fell on the deck 
holding the man o\er him, and when the 
crew of the vessel tried to bayonet him he 
would shield himself with the guard by 
moving him from side to side. The struggle 
was short. The crew of the privateer 
being taken by surprise were soon captured, 
and Captain Bishop and his crew had con- 
trol shortly of the vessel, which they 



brought into port, where Wolfville, Nova 
Scotia, now is; and the sword worn by him 
on that occasion has been iianded down to 
the oldest in the family, and is now in the 
possession of Judge'Bishop. 

While Judge Bishop was serving as 
county judge of De Kalb county he also 
assisted Judge Scales and Judge Carter, of 
Cook county, for about two years, and has 
also presided at intervals on the circuit 
bench of Cook county since his election to 
the circuit bench. 

The judge is a tine specimen of physical 
manhood, si.x feet four and one-half inches 
in height, average weight two hundred and 
fifty pounds, commanding appearance, of 
pleasing address and affable manner. He is 
a good lawyer, and as a judge is iinpartial 
and careful in his rulings, and is giving sat- 
isfaction to the bar and the people. 



ISAAC S. WOODS, supervisor of Afton 
1 township, and a leading farmer of the 
township, is a native of Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, born May 17, 1835, and is 
the son of David H. and Catherine (Camp- 
bell) Woods, both natives of Pennsyhania, 
and who were the parents of eleven chil- 
dren, five of whom are deceased. Those 
living are Hannah, Cynthia, David, Martha, 
Catherine and Isaac S. The Woods are of 
Scotch Irish descent, but were early settlers 
of the United States. The paternal grand- 
father of our subject was a native of Cum- 
berland county, Pennsylvania, and was with 
Daniel Boone in Kentucky. In April, 1844, 
the father moved with his family to Rich- 
land county, Ohio, and two years later came 
to Illinois, locating in Kendall county, where 
he purchased one hundred and eighty acres 
of wild land, which he proceeded to im- 



Till': l;lO;.KAI'IIlCAi. RiiCORi;. 



; I 



prove, and wliere his death occurred June 
5, 1849, at the age of sixty-six years. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to 
farm hfe, and received his education in the 
district-schools of Ohio and Illinois, princi- 
pally in Kendall county. He remained on 
the old homestead until after attaining his 
majority, assisting in the cu!ti\atinn of the 
farm. On the 20th of December, 1865, he 
married Miss Pluma E. Ovitt, a native of 
Kendall county, and a daughter of S. A. 
Ovitt. I'jy this union there are six children 
— John W., Minnie E., Charles S., Daisy 
A., Ida B. and Emma C. Of these chil- 
dren, John, Minnie and Daisy have each en- 
gaged in teaching in the district schools, 
and have been quite successful teachers. 

In 1865 Mr. Woods came to De Kalb 
county, Illinois, and located on section 34, 
Alton township. He soon became quite 
prominent in township affairs, and has 
served as collector and assessor for several 
terms, and 1892 was elected supervisor, re- 
elected in 1894, 1896 and 1898. He is 
now serving his fourth term and is recog- 
nized as one of the active members of the 
board, serving on sexeral of the most im- 
portant committees. In politics he is a 
thorough Republican and has \oted that 
ticket since attaining his majority. Relig- 
iously he and his family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, of Waterman, 
in which he takes an active part. His farm 
consists of one hundred and sixty acres, and 
its general appearance denotes the thrift of 
its owner. No man in Afton township has 
more friends than the subject of this sketch. 



BENJAMIN F. ATHERTON, who re- 
sides on section 31, Shabbona town- 
ship, has resided in De Kalb count}', since 



September 29, 1854, and now has a farm of 
two hundred and sixty-eight acres, together 
with eighty acres in Willow creek township, 
Lee county, which is just across the county 
line from the home farm. He was born 
near Scranton, Lackawanna county, Penn- 
sylvania, October 24, 1828, and is the son 
of Joseph Atherton, born in the same county 
and state and on the same farm. His grand- 
father, Eleazer Atherton, was a native 
of Massachusetts, as was also his great- 
grandfather, Cornelius Atherton. The Ath- 
ertons are of English ancestry, the original 
ancestor coming to the New World in 1666. 
Colonel Humphery Atherton, with his two 
sons. Rev. Hope Atherton and James Ath- 
erton, coming to this country in that year. 
Our subject is a direct descendant of James 
Atherton, who had twelve sons, one of 
whom, John, was the father of Cornelius. 
The latter was a pioneer of that part of 
Luzerne county which is now Lackawanna 
county, Penn.sylvania. He went to that 
locality prior to the Revolutionar}' war, but 
was compelled to return to New York dur- 
ing that struggle. After the Revolution, he 
returned to Lackawanna county, purchased 
land, and there spent the remainder of his 
life. His son, Eleazer, there grew to man- 
hood, but in New |ersey married Martha 
Kenan, after which he located upon the 
old farm in Lackawanna count}', Pennsyl- 
vania, where he reared his family of nine 
children. 

Joseph Atherton grew to manhood in his 
native count}', and there married Phebe 
\'osburg, of German and Holland parent- 
age. Her father, Cornelius Vosburg, was 
a resident of the Mohawk \'alle}', and there 
resided some \ears, prior to his reinoval 
to Pennsylvania. Joseph .\therton resided 
on the old homestead, a part of which he 



5^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



iiiheiitcd, and there died in 1845, "^^ the 
a^e of forty-five years. He was twice mar- 
ried, his first wife dyinx at the a^e of twen- 
ty-seven years. His last wife survived him 
some years. 

The snbject of this sketch grew to ma- 
ture years in his native connty, and received 
a fair common-school education. He re- 
mained on the ol(j home farm and assisted 
in its cultivation, until the fall of 1854, 
when, accompanied by his brother Charles 
.Vtherton, he came to I)e Kalb county, join- 
inijaii uncle who was then living here. The 
brothers bought a tract of one hundred and 
si.\ty-six acres, on which they erected a 
small house, and then set about its further 
improvement. .\s the years went l)y, they 
erected the various buildings now on the 
place, planted an orchard, set out forest 
and shade trees, and also five hundred rods 
of liedge fence, making of the farm one of 
the neatest and liest in the entire countv. 
Charles Atherton remained single and as- 
sisted in the cultivation of the place until 
his death in 1888, at the age of hfty-si.\ 
years. 

Mr. Atherton returned to Pennsylvania, 
and in W\-oming county, fifteen miles from 
Scranton, on the 26th oi October, 1858, 
was united in marriage with Miss Almira 
Maynard, a native of Wyoming county, 
Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Thomas 
Maynard, of the same county. She was 
reared and educated in her native county, 
and was a teacher in its public schools pre- 
vious to her marriage. By this union were 
four children, two of whom are deceased, 
Blanche dying in infancy, and Thomas at 
the age of fifteen years. The living are 
Ella and Joseph, the latter now assisting 
in carrying on the home farm. 

Politically Mr. Atherton is a Republican, 



while his father was an old-line Whig, and 
grandfather a stanch Federalist. The first 
presidential vote cast by our subject was 
for General Wir.field Scott, in 1852, and 
his second \ote for that office for General 
Fremont. 

The only office our subject has e\er 
held was that of .=chool director, only ac- 
cepting that by reason of his interest in the 
public schools. His wife is a member of 
the Congregational church, while the fam- 
il\' in Pennsylvania were Baptists. Success 
has crowned him in his efforts since coming 
to De Kalb countj', and he is now num- 
bered among the most substantial men to 
be found in it. 



ELIJAH CURTLS, a retired farmer re- 
siding; in the city of De Kalb, Illinois, 
has been a resident of the count\' for forty- 
two years, during which time he has prin- 
cipall}' engaged in agricLiltnral pursuits, but 
has also shown his loyalty to his country by 
a service of nearly four years in its army 
during the war for the union. He was born 
in Douglas, \\'orcester county, , Massachu- 
setts, November 2j, 1836, and is the son 
of Bryant and Patience (Powers) Curtis. 
Bryant ("urtis was a native of Worcester 
county, Massachusetts, and was l)orn De- 
cember 4, 1803. By occupation he was a 
farmer, both in the east and after his com- 
ing to Illinois. Locating in .■\fton township, 
De Kalb county, he lived a lite of useful- 
ness and respectabilitw and passed away 
December 8, 1880. His wife was a nati\e 
of Croydon, Sullivan county. New Hamp- 
shire, born June 11, 1803. After proving 
herself a companion meet for her husband in 
truthfulness and love, she was called to her 
reward, March 12, 1876. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



53 



l^rjant Curtis was the son of Ebeiie^er 
Curtis, who earned for himself an enviable 
reputation for his daring courage in the 
Revolutionary war. He participated in the 
battles in which Burgoyne's army was de- 
feated and captured. His descendant, the 
subject of this sketch, owns a musket that 
he used in those dark and troublous times. 
Mr. Curtis has also in his possession a cut- 
lass captured by his great-granduncle at 
Cape Town, South Africa. The mother of 
Mr. Curtis bad four uncles who were en- 
gaged in defense of freedom and independ- 
ence at the battle f)f Bunker Hill. The 
Curtis family, as far back as the fourth 
generation, lived on land in Worcester 
county, Massachusetts, deeded to them by 
the I\ing of England. 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
and educated on a farm in Worcester coun- 
ty. .Massachusetts, where he confined him- 
self to agricultural jiursuits. At the age of 
nineteen, he came to what was then the 
west, locating in Dc K;ilb count}-, Illinois. 
Here he engaged as a farm laborer, work- 
ing by the month, at which vocation he 
continued until 1859, when he began to 
work land on shares. This he followed for 
two years. At this period in his life's his- 
tory, his country became imperiled, and, like 
many others of her brave and patriotic sons, 
Mr. Curtis went forth, placing himself upon 
her altar, that the nation's integrity and 
glory might be retained. How faithfully he 
performed this sacred duty, the following 
will attest. 

In 1 86 1 he was enrolled as a member of 
Company C, Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, G. W. Kittell, captain, and W. 
F. Lynch, colonel. The regiment was as- 
signed to the Second Division of the Si.x- 
teenth .Army Corps, and participated in the 



battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, 
Red River, Kansas City, Nashville, and 
Bayou La Mourie. At Shiloh, April 6, 1862, 
Mr. Curtis was wounded and was laid up 
for four months, during which time he vis- 
ited his home, in Afton township, De Kalb 
count)', Illinois. After the e.Npiration of his 
furlough, he returned to his command, then 
stationed at Camp Danville, Mississippi. 
.At the battle of Corinth he was again 
wounded in the ankie, October 4, 1862. 
This caused an absence of seven months, 
during which time he again received a fur- 
lough to \isit his home. \t this time his 
regiment was recruiting at Springfield, and 
he joined it at that place. In the winter 
of 1863-4, his regiment joined Sherman's 
Army ar. Vicksburg, and participated in 
a raid through Mississippi. At a battle 
fought during the Red River E.xpedition, 
Mr. Curtis received another wound, Ma\' 
iC, 1864, this time in the thigh. After a 
four months' furlough and rest, he returned 
to his command, then slatioiK'd at [efferson 
Barracks. 

After its brush \sith Price at Kansas 
C'\{y, the Fifty-eighth returned to St. Louis 
and shipped frir Nash\ille, to join General 
Thomas, and arri\ed just m time to engage 
in a battle at that place. The regiment 
was then sent to Eastport, at which place 
Mr. Curtis left it, his time ha\ing e.xpired. 
He was honorably discharged at Chicago, 
February 7, 1865, as sergeant of his com- 
pany, being promoted to that rank at Cor- 
inth, Mississippi, as a reward for his bravery 
in that contest. He still carries the ball re- 
ceived at that battle. At the battle of Shi- 
loh, his regiment was surrounded and after 
a well contested struggle it was obliged to 
surrender, but after being imprisoned seven 
months it was paroled. A brother of Mr. 



54 



'HE BIOGRAl'llICAL RECORD. 



CiiitiswHS a iiifinber of Coinpiiny G. Fift\ - 
sevuiilli Massachusetts X'oliiiitecr Infanti)-, 
atid (lied ill Dainillc, \'irj»inia, 

AfltT his disclKirf,'e, Mr. ("iiitis a.!;ain 
oiifjagcil ill aL;i ii'iih nral |)iiisiiils in ("hnl'Hi 
t<n\nshi|), where he nwiied huly acres of 
land, which he soli_l and boiij^ht eighty acres, 
and til this he added eighty acres more in 
Milan townshi]^. which later he e.xchanged 
for a valuable farm of two hundred acres 
in Afton township, which he still owns, in 
addition to his tine city residence. On the 
1st of July, 1865, he married Miss Candace 
E. Bovee, a daughter of Richard and Or- 
pha (Parks) Bovee. She was born in Erie 
county, New York, September 14, 1836. 
Their wedded life was of short duration, 
Mrs. Curtis dying June 27, 1867, leaving 
one son, David G. For his second wife 
Mr. Curtis married, April ;t, 1879, Miss 
Juliette E. Hurd, a native of Marion coun- 
ty, Indiana, born August 14, 1844, and 
a daughter of Alanson and Jerusha A. 
(Springer) Hurd, both natives of New York 
state. By this union two children were 
born — Hortense, September 9, 1880, and 
Sarah Elloise, January 10, 1883. The 
former died October 10, 1884 Mrs. Julia 
E. Curtis departed this life December i, 
1886, at the age of forty-two years. For 
his third wife, December 3, 1891, Mr. 
Curtis married Mrs. Wealthy M. White, 
widow of James White, sergeant in the 
Twelfth New York Volunteer Infantry, and 
a daughter of Robert Morse and Caroline 
Smith, both of whom were natives of New 
York. By her hrst marriage she has one 
daughter, Nina, who makes her home with 
her mother. Mrs. Wealthy M. Curtis is a 
lady of fine talents, a most estimable wife 
and loving mother. To Mr. and Mrs. Cur- 
tis one son has been born, Leland Powers, 



June 15, 1S9S. .Mr. Curtis traces his an- 
eestcirs back to John Iceland, who was anti- 
(|nary to King Henr\ \'III, nf England. 

I'oliticallv Mr. Curtis is a stanch Ke- 
piibliran and has been hoiinred bv his 
friends anil neighbors with several town 
offices, se'rving as town clerk, road com- 
missioner, school director, all of which he 
tilled with much credit. He was formerlj- 
a member of Merritt Simonds Post, G. A. 
R. , of De Kalb, of which he served as 
commander. In 1896 he asked to be trans- 
ferred to Potter Post, No. 12, G. A. R., of 
Sycamore, of which he is now a member. 
Mr. Curtis is of a kind and loving disposition 
and has the happy faculty of making and 
retaining friends. By marriage his chil- 
dren and those of President F'illmore are 
closely related. 



JOSEPH P. WAYLAND, M. D., Syca- 
more, Illinois, has attained a high 
degree of success, both as a physician and 
surgeon. He is of the Homeopathic school 
of medicine, well read, not only in the 
authorities of his own school, but in all 
schools of medicine. He is a native of 
Kenton county, Kentucky, born May 4, 
1841, and resided in his native county 
until the age of twenty-one years, receiv- 
ing his education in the district schools 
and at Aspen Gro\e Academy, attend- 
ing the latter institution from the age 
of seventeen until he attained his major- 
ity. He then went to Hebron, Indiana, 
where he engaged in teaching and where 
he remained for eight years, in the mean- 
time studying medicine, and attending lec- 
tures at the Cincinnati Pultz Medical Col- 
lege. In 1870 he removed to Byron, Ogle 
county, Illinois, where he engaged in prac- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



55 



tice for twenty years. In \^JJ S lie en- 
tered Hahnemann Medical College, from 
which he graduated in 187S. At B}ron 
and Stiliman Valley he built up a good 
practice, but believing Sycamore to be a 
better field, he removed to that place in 
1890, and now has a large and lucrative 
practice, and has the respect o( the medical 
fraternity of the place, and the people in 
general. 

Dr. Wayland is a son of Joseph Waj- 
land, who was born in Culpeper county, 
Virginia, September 9, 1778, and who by 
occupation was a farmer during his entire 
life. He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and because of his dis- 
like for slavery removed to Kentucky, in 
1797. His removal was hastened from the 
fact that his father desired him to take 
charge of a large plantation on which there 
were many slaves. Being firmly convinced 
that no man had the right to hold another in 
bondage, and that a human being was not 
subject to property rights, he declined to 
accede to the wishes of his father. This 
made the father angry, and the son left 
home, going to Kentucky. Notwithstand- 
ing the latter became a slave state, and 
that he was always surrounded by slaves, 
he never owned one, nor would he receive 
one hundred and fifty of them left by his 
father on his death. His action displeased 
his relatives, especially when he publicly 
advocated the abolition of slavery and de- 
nied their right to hold human chattels. He 
predicted a great war over the question of 
slavery, and frequently told our subject that 
he would live to see it, even if he, the 
father, should not. His death occurred 
November 17, 1830. a decade before the 
predicted war began. In politics he was a 
strong Whig, while bitterly anti-slaverj-. 



He married Nancy Masse), a native of 
Orange county, Virginia, born August 20, 
1792, and died September r 3, 1S64, at the 
age of se\enty-two years. She was a 
daughter of Edward Massey, who married 
a Miss Timberlake, both of whom were na- 
tives of Virginia. Edward Massey, with 
four brothers, served in the Revolutionary 
war. Joseph and Nancy Wayland were the 
parents of twelve children, of whom our 
subject is the youngest. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, 
Henry Wajland, was a nati\e of German)', 
who settled in Virginia early in the eight- 
eenth century, and who became a large 
land owner and also the owner of man)' 
slaves. At his death he left each of his 
seven sons and two daughters large planta- 
tions and one hundred and fifty slaves each. 
His wife was Miss Nancy Phinks. 

Dr. Wayland was first married in Pen- 
dleton county, Kentucky, in 1 861, to Miss 
Belle Cook, a daughter of Thomas Cook, 
who married a Miss Mains. By this union 
were three children, all of whom are yet 
living. Etta married Abraham Hannaker, 
by whom she has four children: Chellis, 
Morris, Clinton and Belle. They reside in 
Spencer, South Dakota. Belle married 
Clarence Mack, by whom she has two chil- 
dren, Elsa and Earl. They reside at Mon- 
roe, Illinois. Clara resides at home. The 
Doctor's second marriage was when he re- 
sided in Hebron, Indiana. He there mar- 
ried Mar)' Jane Kithcart, a daughter of 
Joseph Kithcart, who married Phebe Ann 
Youngs. They came to Hebron from Ash- 
land county, Ohio. They have two chil- 
dren, Chellib and Alwilda, the latter now- 
being the wife of G. A. Dayton, of Austin, 
Illinois. They ha\c one son, Wilbur 
Wayland. 



56 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In politics Ur. WaN'land is a Republican, 
but pruhibition in sentiment. \^'hile re- 
siding in Byron he was president of the 
board iif trustees ui the town, and also 
held the office of school director. For 
several terms he served as cf)roner of Ogle 
county. Fraternally he is a member of tiic 
Masons, Indepenilent Order of Odd I'eljows, 
Modern Woodmen of .America and Knights 
of the (dobe. IK- is one of .Sycamore's 
hdiKiM-d ;nul \alueil rili/ens, his upright 
and honorable career having won lor him 
the confidence and fiigh regard of all with 
whom he has come in contact either in pro- 
fessional or social life. 



JACOB HAISH, the originator and in- 
ventor of the barb wire and the auto- 
matic machine used in its manufacture, in 
the true sense of the term is a self-made 
man. With limited opportunities for stud\', 
or for the exercise of any special talent, he 
has made a name that has brought him 
national fame and honors that were little 
dreamed of when as a boy and youth he 
struggled with adverse fortune. For years 
his manufactory at De Kalb, Illinois, has 
been one of the noted institutions of the 
city and state, where he has turned out 
millions of pounds of barb wire of various 
patterns, including the " Eli " barb, the " S" 
barb and the "Glidden " fjarb. But he has 
not confined himself alone to the manufact- 
ure of barb wire, but has likewise made a 
specialty of the manufacture of woven wire 
fencing, plain wire, staples, nails, the Rus- 
tler disk harrows, tubular steel and wood 
beam hustler lever harrows, barrel carts, 
bob sleds, etc. His manufactory has been 
a veritable hive of industry, and he has 



given employment to hundreds of men at 
good, living wages. 

Jacob Haish was born near Colsul, 
f^aden, Germanv, March 9, i 837, and is the 
son of Christian and Christina Haish, na- 
tives of Germany, who emigrated with their 
family to .\merica, in 1S36, when Jacob 
was but nine years of age. The}- located 
in the scjuth part fd Fenn.sylvania, where 
they remained but a short time, during 
which, however. tliL v\ iff and mother passed 
away, leaving Jacob, hut ten years of age, 
an age, indeed, when all boys should have 
the protecting care of mother to shield them 
from the dangers which beset their path. 
The father with his motherless children soon 
removed to Crawford county, Ohio, where 
he purchased a farm of eighty acres in the 
woods, with the Indians for his neighbors, 
and entered upon the herculean task of sub- 
duing it. 

Christian Haish was by trade a carpen- 
ter, and his son, our subject, soon acquired 
a full knowledge of that trade. On the 
farm, however, he lived and worked, alter- 
nating his labors by attending school and 
using the plane and saw till he attained his 
twentieth year. In 1846, he left the pa- 
ternal roof, turned his face towards the set- 
ting sun, and finally located at Naperville, 
Du Page county, Illinois, where he followed 
agricultural pursuits for several seasons. 
While living in Du Page count)', Mr. Haish 
formed the first partnership of his life in the 
person of Miss Sophie Ann Brown, with 
whom he was united in marriage. May 24, 
1847. This partnership has never been 
dissolved, but has become stronger by the 
flight of years. Mrs. Haish is a native of 
Xew York, born March 10, 1829. She has 
proved herself a helpmeet, and a true and 
faithful wife, not only in the palmy days of 




JACOB HAISH. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



59 



luxury, but in the stern and stirring days ot 
opposition and competition, which try the 
teinper and disposition of man. 

One year after his marriage, Mr. Haish 
removed to Pierce township, De Kalb coun- 
ty, where he carried on farming for some 
three years. In 1854, he moved into the 
village of De Kalb, where he worked at his 
trade. After his first one hundred dollars 
were saved, he purchased a bill of lumber, 
and from that time began to contract and 
build, a business which he followed success- 
fully for fifteen years. It was while in this 
business that Mr. Haish was annoyed bj- 
the farmers who were anxious to secure 
sound boards for fencing, strong enough to 
resist brute force. This brought to his 
mind the first idea of a fence. He first 
began by weaving osage on a fence so that 
the thorns would prick the stock. This 
was not practical, however, but opened up 
the way to new fields of speculation and 
invention. Mr. Haish next conceived the 
idea of making " thorns" of wire, but using 
only one wire, it slipped and proved unsat- 
isfactory. This was in 1873. He next 
thought of putting two wires together, form- 
a twist, with the barb between them, when 
"presto " we have the barb wire complete. 

Mr. Haish first made the wire in sections, 
thinking that to be used for fencing pur- 
poses it must be so constructed. Each sec- 
tion was sixteen feet long. He put one side 
the first secti(jn that he constructed, think- 
ing nothing more of it until a farmer came 
in one day and offered him fifty cents for 
it, but on this wire he secured a patent Jan- 
uary 20, 1874. He next conceived the idea 
of inventing an automatic machine to make 
his fence wire. This machine must form 
the twist, spool, put in the barb, and thus 
complete the fence. Mr. Haish was urged 



by his friends to abandon his project as 
chimerical, but he could not be turned 
aside, for, with a \ision of a prophet, he 
looked down the vista of time and saw re- 
vealed unto him the inidday glory and tri- 
umph of the fair and shapely form of the 
"S" barb, which was all this time taking 
shape and comeliness in the evolutions of 
his mind. He was advised by his counsel 
to enter a ca\eat to secure his right, but 
the time ran out before he applied for a 
patent, thus throwing him out of his right 
to the machine. He then had it manufac- 
tured by a mechanic, who patented it, and 
sold the right to Mr. Haish. In this way 
he secured his original machine. 

The summary of the matter is this: 
Mr. Haish introduced one of the first suc- 
cessful barb wires; he made the first 
wooden spool upon which the wire is 
coiled; he used the first paint or varnish; 
he shipped the first spool by rail or water; 
and introduced it into eight states, before 
any other man had shipped any. He also 
introduced the first automatic machine for 
manufacturing the barb wire, but he was 
not to have his rights without a severe con- 
test, and no contest over a patent right was 
ever so widely advertised, never so stub- 
bornly contested, and never so courage- 
ously defended. Mr. Haish believed with 
all his heart that he was right, and on the 
strength of that belief he advanced, he 
fought, he conquered. During all this 
time the "S" barb went rejoicing on its 
way, gaining strength and friends in its 
onward march. Now, in ripe manhood, 
Mr. Haish can look back and see in his far 
reaching sagacity, the vast importance of 
his new and cherished industry, the Haish 
Manufacturing Company of De Kalb. 

Mr. Haish enjoys the finest and most 



6o 



THli BIOCxRAPHICAL RECORD. 



palatial residence in the city of De Kalb. 
This grand and imposing edifice he con- 
ceived ill his own fertile brain. Even the 
beautiful and exquisite artistic designs which 
adorn the walls and ceilings of his house 
were first planned by himself and have a 
history or point a moral. The painting on 
the dome — the four seasons — is magnificent 
and imposing. There is indeed harmony 
all through the interior of this beautiful 
and comfortable home. But the harmony 
of the furnishings is not to be compared to 
the harmony that exists between the happy 
inmates who occupy the home. 

In 1884 Mr. Haish organized the Barb 
City Bank, of De Kalb, of which he is 
president, while George Baldwin is cashier. 
Besides ()\\ning the bank, he owns land in 
Dakota, Denver, Colorado, Kansas, Ohio 
and Chicago. In De Kalb city he owns about 
one hundred ;ind thirty houses, and in the 
township he h;is about twelve farms. With 
all this wealth, lie is the same Jacob Haish 
he was when he worked at the carpenter's 
bench, willing to help his fellow-men, who 
are in need, and who appreciate being 
helped. He is deeply interested in the 
education of the young, and the building 
up of his adopted city. For the State 
Normal School, he willingly and cheerfully 
contributed ten thousand dollars. He is 
ever ready to assist with his means any 
laudable enterprise, and it can be safely 
said of him that he has done as much as 
any other one man to advance the material 
interests of his adopted city and county. 



TW. COOPER, a well-known farmer re- 
siding on section 35, De Kalb town- 
ship, is a native of Cayuga county. New 
York, born March 11, 1834, and is the son 



of George C. and Sarah iMcCally) Cooper, 
both of whom were also natives of New 
York state. The father was a colonel of 
the Seventy-seventh New York Volunteers, 
who, in the war of 1 8 1 2, took such an active 
part in the defense of their country. Not 
only was he a prominent leader in military 
circles, but he was a leader in politics also, 
although he would never be incumbered 
with office, but was the means through his 
party in placing others in official positions. 
In politics he was a thorough and uncom- 
promising Whig, a believer in the principle 
of protection, and an admirer of the great 
Whig statesmen, Daniel Webster and Henry 
Clay. In 1842 he removed with his family 
to Michigan, where he engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits, and there remained three 
years. He then removed to Du Page 
county, Illinois, where he remained for sev- 
eral years. He was born in 1796 and died 
in 1 87 1. His wife was born in 1787, and 
died in 1868. 

From Du Page county our subject re- 
moved to La Salle county, where he re- 
mained until 1883, then moved to Carlton, 
where he purchased what is known as the 
Robbins farm. In 1S94 he sold that farm 
and removed to De Kalb county, and now 
resides on a fertile farm of eighty acres in 
De Kalb township. He was married Au- 
gust 15, 1859, to Miss Josephine A. Bond, 
a native of New York state, born in 1840, 
and a daughter of William and Mar}' Bond. 
She died in 1861, leaving one daughter, 
Mary J., who was born October 5, i860. 
For his second wife, in 1866, he married 
Miss Malvina A. Covall. a daughter of Rich- 
ard and Malinda Covall. This union re- 
sulted in the birth of two sons, Frank E., 
born in 1867, and Charles, born in 1869. 
Mrs. Malvina Cooper, who was born in New 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



6i 



York state in 1847, died in 1876. Mr. 
Cooper married for his third wife, |iine 29, 
1878, Miss Mary A. Ellwood, a native of 
LaSalle county, born in 1859, and a daugh- 
ter of Benjamin and Olive Ellwood. B3' 
this union seven children ha\e been born, 
live of whom arc now living: Mal)el B.. 
born in 1879; Bertie, in 1880; Myrtle, in 
r88S; Ray, in 1886, and Herbert, in 1888. 
Mr. Cooper is a genial man, of marked 
sociability, and in politics is a Republican. 
He is a member of the Baptist church, with 
which he has been connected for thirty-five 
years, for thirty years of which time he was 
a leading member of the church choir, being 
a musician of more than ordinary ability. 



CH. FOILES is a retired farmer resid- 
ing in the city of De Kalb. He is a 
native of Northampton, Schoharie county. 
New York, and was born in 1822. His 
parents, James and Ann Foiies, who, while 
not rich in this world's goods, were in up- 
rightness of character far beyond the aver- 
age in the higher walks of moral life. They 
confined themselves to agricultural pursuits, 
and both died before our subject reached 
the age of twelve years. 

Mr. Foiies was only twelve years of age 
when with others he came to the Fox River 
N'alley, in 1834, just as the Indians had va- 
cated that country. He there made his 
home until he reached his majority, when 
he removed to Shabbona Grove, and there 
purchased a farm of one hundred acres, for 
which he paid two dollars per acre, and 
which cost the seller only eighty cents per 
acre. Like all early settlers, he worked 
liard, used rigid economy, until he was able 
fo purchase more land, and now owns a 



beautiful and fertile farm of two hundred 
and forty acres. 

Mr. Foiies has been twice married, his 
first imion, which was celebrated August 3, 
1850, being with Miss Marietta Burdick, 
a native of Caledonia county, New ^'ork, 
born May 13, 1831, and a daughter of Har- 
ris and Sarah Burdick, who were numbered 
among the early settlers of Ue I\alb county. 
Mrs. Foiies died September 4, 1870, leav- 
ing five children: Helen, born in 1851; 
Charles H., in 1854; Edward, in 1857; 
Harris, in 1861; and Fred, in 1863. For 
his second wife Mr. Foiies married Mrs. 
Minerva Davis, widow of D. C. Davis, and 
a daughter of Narcis and Minerva La Port. 
She was born November 10, 1856, and is a 
native of Canada, of French extraction, 
whose parents came to this country at a 
very early day. By her marriage with D. 
C. Davis, she had six children born to her, 
two of whom are living, Justin L. , born 
March 10, 1867, and Charles O., April 18, 
1870. The union of Mr. Foiies and Mrs. 
Davis was solemnized September 14, 1880, 
and to them was born one son. Earl Leroy, 
born August 30, 1883. 

In politics Mr. Foiies is a Republican, 
and has been honored by his fellow-citizens 
with several township offices, which he filled 
with credit to himself, and to those who 
trusted him with power and authority. In 
[893, he removed to the city of De Kalb, 
where he is now living a retired life, enjoy- 
ing the fruits of honest toil. 



JO. OLESON, photographer, Postoffice 
building, De Kalb. It is safe to say 
that there is no branch of industry, art or 
science, in which more marked advances 
have been made during recent years than 



62 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in photography. From the date of Ua- 
guerre's first discovery of retaining impres- 
sions on material substances, by the aid of 
h'ght and chemical appliances, its progress 
has been nothing less than a continuou.s 
march of success, and yet the end has not 
been reached. Notwithstanding all that 
has been attained, much yet depends upon 
skill and judgment of the operator in ob- 
taining favorable and desirable results. 
Among the prosperous ard well-patronized 
men of Da Kalb, our subject has always 
maintained a most enviable reputation for 
superior workmanship and liberal business 
methods. 

Mr. Oleson i.s a native of Norway, born 
in 1845. In 1868 he emigrated tcj the 
United States and located in Chicago, at 
which time he began business as a photog- 
rapher. In 1872, after serving under the 
best photographers in Chicago, he opened 
an establishment on his own account, and 
was eminently successful. He continued 
his residence in Chicago for ten years, com- 
ing to De Kalb, in 1878, where he estab- 
lished himself in his business, and for six- 
teen years was the only permanent photog- 
rapher in the city. His studio was on Main 
street up to 1896, but he is now situated on 
Third street, over the postoffice. The 
premises he occupies for his business are 
spacious and commodious, easy of access, 
and the reception room and office are hand- 
somel}' furnished. His gallery and finish- 
ing room are fitted up with the latest appli- 
ances known to the profession, including 
the best light accessories. Indeed, the 
whole establishment is fitted up in first-class 
style. Sitters are posed by Mr. Oleson, 
who is recognized as an artist of marked 
ability, and the most careful attention is 
given to every detail which is likely to en- 



hance the beauty and faithfulness of the 
picture. The beauty of design, fineness of 
finish, and the artistic workmanship of 
everything manipulated, are matters of just 
pride to Mr. Oleson. His merits are in- 
dorsed by hundreds of patrons in city and 
country. 

On the 8th of October, 1876, Mr. Ole- 
son was united in marriage with Miss Bertha 
Johnson, a native of Sweden, born in 1854, 
and to them were born three children. 
Derby U., born in 1877, died January 17, 
1898. Ross M. was born in 1879, and 
Chester G., in 1885. For twenty years 
Mr. Oleson has been a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, in which he 
has held several responsible offices. In 
politics he is a Republican. 



CAPTAIN ORVILLE B. MERRILL, 
who is engaged in the mercantile 
trade at Hinckley, Illinois, has been a resi- 
dent of Illinois since 1855. He is a native 
of New York, born in Plessis, February 18, 
1833, and is the son of Ahira and Melinda 
(Shurtleff) Merrill, both of whom were na- 
tives of New York state, the latter born in 
Washington count)', being the daughter of 
fames Shurtleff, a major of dragoons in 
the war of 1812, and who was in the battle 
of Sackett's Harbor. The Merrill family 
are of Scotch and English descent, the first 
of the name to settle in America being 
Major Joshua Merrill, who located in Mas- 
sachusetts, at a very early day. 

Ahira Merrill, the father of our subject, 
grew to manhood in his native state, and in 
his youth learned the carpenter's and join- 
er's trade, and for some years engaged in 
contracting and building before commg 
west. In 'I854 he carrie to Illinois, and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



63 



first located in Chicago, where he remained 
one year, and then settled in Aurora, where 
he engaged in the sash, door and lilinil 
manufactory, as a member of the firm of 
Reed & Merrill, their factory being located 
on the Island. They built up a large and 
profitable business, which was continued 
for some years. During the war for the 
Union, he joined the engineer corps of the 
army, and was with Fremont about one 
year. He then returned to Aurora, and 
engaged in the lumber business, which he 
continued until his death in 1871, at the age 
of seventy-six years. Prior .to his removal 
to Illinois, he went to California in 1849, 
where he engaged in contracting and build- 
ing in San Francisco, where he built the 
first church and the first theatre in that 
city. He remained there five years, and 
was fairly successful. Religiously he was 
a Congregationalist and an active worker 
in the church. He was the father of two 
sons and five daughters, the oldest of 
whom, Helen, is the wife of K. A. Burnell, 
o( Aurora, Illinois. The others are Mrs. 
S. E. Bridgeman, of Northampton, Mas- 
sachusetts; Mrs. Dr. O. Wilson, of .Aurora; 
Orville B., of this review; Mrs. S. M. 
Fitch, who died in Missouri; Julia, who 
died single at the age of sixteen; and F. 
E., who was the first settler of Hinckley, 
but is now deceased. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in Aurora, was educated in its public 
schools, and learned the printer's trade in 
New York city. He enlisted May 24, 1861, 
as a member of the Thirteenth Illinois Vol- 
teer Infantry. He was later transferred to 
the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
in which he was commissioned captain of 
Company I. Among the numerous engage- 
ments in which he participated were the 



battles of Wilson Creek and Pea Ridge, 
serving in the latter on the staff of General 
Oiisterhouse. He was again in the fight at 
Perryville, Kentucky, and at Stone River. 
During the latter engagement he was taken 
prisoner with six other officers of the Thir- 
ty-sixth Regiment, and of these seven. Cap- 
tain Merrill is the only survivor. Colonel 
Campbell, whose death occurred at Sioux 
City, Iowa, recently, was the last of the 
number to go. While Captain Merrill was 
the oldest of the seven, he yet survi\es 
them all, and is an enterprising business 
man. Previous to his capture Captain Mer- 
rill was shot in the ankle. When taken he 
was at once sent to Libby Prison, where 
he remained about four months, and was 
then exchanged, and joined his regiment at 
Chattanooga. He was next in the battle of 
Chickamauga and then Mission Ridge, fol- 
lowed by the Atlanta campaign. At the ex- 
piration of his term of service he was dis- 
charged and returned home, but later joined 
the army in the commissary department at 
Duvall's Bluff, serving until the close of the 
war. 

Returning home Captain Merrill engaged 
in newspaper work and served as foreman 
on both the Beacon and Herald at Aurora, 
Illinois, remaining there for some years. 
Later he was with the Milwaukee Sentinel 
and Chicago Journal, after which he en- 
gaged in newspaper work at Batavia, Illi- 
nois. In 1S84 he came to Hinckley, and 
went into the store of his brother, F. E. 
Merrill, and in 1891 purchased the clothing 
department of that store and engaged in the 
clothing and gents' furnishing goods 
business. 

Captain Merrill was married at Delevan, 
Wisconsin, August 26, 1887, to Miss Fan- 
nie L. Smith, a native of Washington 



64 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL KHCOKD. 



count)-. New York, and a daughter of Peter 
.Smith, a pioneer of Delevan, and a sub- 
stantial fanner, residing at that place. ISy 
this uniciii tliere was one daughter, \'ivian. 
who grew to the age of six years, dying 
April 24, 1896. Religiously Mrs. Merrill is 
a Baptist, and is an active worker in the 
church at Hinckley. Politically the Captain 
is a strong Republican, his first presidential 
vote being cast for General John C. Fre- 
mont. He has been elected and served as 
mayor of the city, township clerk, village 
clerk and is a member of the school board. 
His friends are many throughout Kane and 
De Kalb counties. 



CHARLES BROWN, deceased, was for 
nearly forty years one of the most 
highly respected citizens of Sycamore, as 
vvel! as one of its most enterprising men. 
He was born in German Flats, Herkimer 
count}'. New York, January 14, 1812. His 
father, Henr\' Brown, was born in Connect- 
icut and died in Herkimer county. New 
York, at the age of sixty-three years. His 
wife was Miss Wealthy Al)le, also a native 
of Connecticut. 

Charles Brown was reared in Herkimer 
county, New York, and attended the dis- 
trict school until about the age of eighteen 
years. In his youth he was in ill health, 
and when fifteen years old was sent to Con- 
necticut, with the hope that the change of 
climate would do him good. After a year 
or two he returned to his father's house, 
and remained under the parental roof until 
his marriage at the age of twenty-three 
years. He first married Caroline Dodge, 
who bore him two children. Henry, the 
first born, was for many years associated 
with his father in business. He first mar- 



ried Elizabeth Bennett, liy whom he had 
four children, all deceased. He next mar- 
ried Mrs. Sarah Hood, who now survives 
him, making her home in Waukegan, Illi- 
nois. He raised a company in Sycamore 
and served through the Civil war, attaining 
the rank of major. Addie B. married N. 
C. Warren, who lives in Sycamore, she hav- 
ing died several years ago. 

Soon after marriage Mr. ISrown engaged 
in running a fulling mill, which business he 
continued for several seasons. He then sold 
and for a few years lived on a farm, after 
which he purchased a paper mill at Pulaski, 
Oswego county, New York, which he oper- 
ated until the death of his wife, when he 
sold out and engaged in buying and shipping 
cattle, sheep, dressed beef, etc., for about 
five years. On the i ith of February, 1858, 
at Richfield Springs, New York, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Narina Louise 
Tunnicliffe, who was born at the foot of 
.Schuyler's Lake, at Leroy, Otsego county. 
New York, and a daughter of Richard W. 
Tunnicliffe, a native of Warren, Herkimer 
count}', New York, born May 2, 1805, and 
who died March 17, 1892. He was the son 
of William Tunnicliffe, a large landed pro- 
prietor of Otsego county. New York, the 
owner of many thousand acres of land, but 
who was also engaged in the mercantile 
business for many years. William Tunni- 
cliffe was the son of John Tunnicliffe, who 
with his three brothers left England because 
of distasteful game laws, and settled at 
Richfield Springs, where they became the 
owners of much of the valuable land in that 
region. William Tunnicliffe married Char- 
lotte Rentzau, a daughter of Count Rentzau, 
a German officer ser\ing under Burgoyne, 
and who, after the surrender, was paroled, 
remained in this country, inar:ied, and 



THIC BIOGRAPHICAL KIXORD. 



C'S 



shortly afterward was drowned upon the 
ocean by the capsizing ot his boat. He was 
of the same family as the Rentzaus who 
intermarried with the son of Prince His- 
mark. 

Richard W. Tunnicliffe first married 
Eliza Jane May, February lo, 1828. She 
was born at the foot of Schuyler's Lake, 
September 24, 18 10. and was the daughter 
of Amasa May, who was born either in Con- 
necticut or Exeter Centre, New York, and 
who married Betsy Clark. To Richard W. 
and Eliza Jane Tunnicliffe, two children 
were born — Narina L. , widow of our sub- 
ject, and Frances Elizabeth, widow of John 
Harrington, now living in Richfield, New 
York. After the death of his first wife, 
Richard W. Tunnicliffe married Miss Har- 
mony Clark, an own cousin. They were 
married March 13, 1839. She was the 
daughter of Merritt and Anna (Van Court) 
Clark, the latter being a daughter of Ste- 
phen Van Court. Amasa Clark was the 
son of Ganiamile Clark. By the second 
union were five children: Albert R. , de- 
ceased; Harriet Ann, living with her half 
sister, Mrs. Brown, widow of our subject; 
Ambrose M., deceased; Merritt J., of 
Sioux City, Dakota; and Fred, in Foxbon, 
Canada. 

To Charles and Narina L. Brown, four 
children were born as follows: (i) Carrie 
M. is now the wife of William Sanford, a 
druggist of Sycamore. They have two 
children, Louis R. and Narina Tunni- 
cliffe. (2) Charles M. is deceased. (3) 
Richard T. has never left the parental 
roof. (4) Frank H., who is in partnership 
with his brother-in-law, Mr. Sanford, mar- 
ried Fannie Cunningham, of Polo, Illinois, 
but they reside in Sycamore. They have 
two children, William H. and an infant. 



After his second marriage, Mr. Brown, 
in 1858, made a permanent settlement in 
Sycamore, and for two years again engaged 
in buying and shipping stock, but in com- 
pany with a partner. In 1861, his son 
enlisting in the army, he purchased his 
grocery store, which he continued to run 
alone until the return of his son, when they 
formed a partnership until the son died 
August 27, 1887. The death of the father 
occurred July 9, 1 895. In politics Mr. Brown 
was a Republican, but ne\er a seeker after 
political preferment, although from a sense 
of duty he served for many years as a 
member of the board of education. Mrs. 
Brown is a member of the Episcopal church 
while Mr. Brown was an attendant of the 
same church, to the support of which he con- 
tributed quite freely. To all public enter- 
prises he gave substantial support, always 
having an interest in that which would build 
up his adopted city and county. As ex- 
pressed by one who knew him, " Mr. 
Brown was an exemplar}- man — one of our 
best citizens." 



M",r. 



S. ANNA VAN HORN, widow of the 
te Orlando Van Horn, whose death 
occurred in 1897, now makes her home in 
the city of De Kalb. She is a native of 
Germany, born in 1825, and was eleven 
years of age when she accompanied her 
parents, Valentine and Dorothy Hoffman, 
from Germany to this country in 1S36. 
Shortly after their arrival her father was 
taken sick, and died the same year. The 
widow with her family then came west and 
located in Rockford, Winnebago county, 
Illinois, which continued to be her home 
during the remainder of her life. She was 
born in German}', in Ma}', 1800, and died 



66 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



at Rockford, in May, 1850. Her daughter 
Anna, the subject of this sketch, removed 
from Rockford to Chicago in 1844, where 
she became acquainted with and married 
her first husband, Carver Butterfield, in the 
following year. To those young and happy 
parents one child was born, Frank, who 
now resides in Marysville, Marshall county, 
Kansas. 

Mr. Butlerrteld was a printer by trade, 
and a native of I'ranklin, Massachusetts. 
He came west to Chicago in 1 836 and worked 
on the Prairie P^armer for a number of years, 
at a time when John S. \N'right was editor. 
He was afterwards identified with the Chi- 
cago Democrat, edited and published by 
John Wentworth, who was a familiar figure 
in Chicago for many years. In 1846 he es- 
tablished himself in a job printing office, 
which he conducted for two years, then sold 
out and returned to Massachusetts, but, be- 
ing dissatisfied with his native state, when 
compared with the then great western state 
of Illinois, he returned to Chicago, where 
he again entered upon the duties of a printer 
in the oif.ce of the Democrat, fn 1848 he 
entered a claim with the government for a 
quarter section of land in De Kalb county, 
which in he due time purchased, and where 
he made a home for his family. In 1S50 
his family moved to the claim, Mr. Hoffman, 
a brother of Mrs. Butterfield, superintending 
it, while Mr. Butterfield remained in Chicago 
working at his trade, thus supplying funds 
for the improvement of his land and the 
support of his family. In this way he had 
the advantage of many of his neighbors. In 
1854 he died of cholera in Chicago. 

In 1864 Mrs. Butterfield married for her 
second husband, Orlando \'an Horn, a na- 
tive of Otsego county. New York, whose 
birth occurred in 1828. He was bv trade a 



carpenter, but came to Illinois in the spring 
of 1856, locating at South Grove, De Kalb 
county, where he purchased eight}' acres of 
land, besides a small homestead, and fol- 
lowed the even and uneventful lifeof a farmer 
during the remainder of his life. Like his 
predecessor, Mr. Butterfield, he was a man 
beloved by all who knew him. Mrs. Van 
Horn is a woman of marked intelligence, 
good business ability, sound common sense, 
and has many friends throughout the county. 



LEWIS MERRILL GROSS, the efiicient 
county superintendent of public schools 
of De Kalb county, Illinois, is an educator 
of acknowledged ability. He was born in 
Mayfield township, De Kalb county, June 
II, 1863, and is the son of William and 
Harriet ( Ault) Gross. William Gross was 
born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, De- 
cember 5, 1835, and is the son of George 
and Mary (Keithline) Gross, the former a 
native of Northampton county, Pennsylva- 
nia, born in 1809. Phillip Gross, the great- 
grandfather of our subject, was also born 
in Northampton county, in 1775. He was 
the son of Daniel Gross, who came from 
Germany in 1750. Some of the ancestors 
of the Keithlines were soldiers in the Re\o- 
lutionary war. 

William Gross came to De Kalb county 
in 1857, settling in Mayfield township, where 
he engaged in farming. His death occurred 
at Kingston, May 2, 1886. In politics he 
was a Republican and in religion a Method- 
ist. He was a prosperous and substantial 
citizen, holding the respect and confidence 
of his fellow townsmen. His wife died 
February 28, 1870. Her father, Samuel 
Ault, was a native of Pennsylvania, and 
came west in an e;irl\' tlav, locating in .\In\- 




LEWIS M. GROSS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



69 



field township, De Kalb county, where his 
death occurred in 1868. By occupation he 
was a farmer and also a miller. His wife 
was Catherine (Page) Ault, and she died in 
1865. They had a family of fourteen chil- 
dren — Elizabeth, Nancy, John, Catherine, 
Mary Ann, Margaret, Adam, Mathias, Chris- 
tine, Joseph, Hannah, Julia, Ann, Harriet 
and Sarah. Of these six are yet living. 
To William and Harriet Gross eight chil- 
dren were born as follows: Laura, now the 
wife of C. N. Townsend, living in Bremer 
county, Iowa; Millard P., married and liv- 
ing on the old homestead in Mayfield town- 
ship; Elnora, wife of E. Johnson, of Syca- 
more; Lewis M., our subject; Amanda ]., 
wife of Elvin Nichols, of Calhoun county, 
Iowa; Alice, a teacher in the public schools 
of Sycamore; George and Mary, deceased. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the home farm, receiving his primary edu- 
cation in the district schools. Subsequently 
he entered the Sycamore graded schools, 
graduating from the high school in that city 
in the class of '85. After teaching a district 
school one year ho attended the Wells train- 
ing school, at Oregon, Illinois. Leaving 
that school he became principal of the Cort- 
land school two years, and then served as 
principal' of the Kirkland school for two 
years. In November, 1890, he was elected 
county superintendent on the Republican 
ticket, and was re-elected in 1894. In the 
summer of 1898 he received the nomination 
for a third term, and will doubtless be re- 
elected. 

Mr. Gross was united in marriage No- 
vember 12, 1896, at Huntley, Illinois, to 
Elizabeth M. Parsons, a native of McHenry 
county, and a daughter of Theophilus L. 
and Ellen (Hubbard) Parsons, the former a 

native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of 
4 



New York. Her father has been in the em- 
ploy of the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
way for forty-one years, and is now station 
agent at Huntley and is the oldest station 
agent on the line. Both parents are yet 
living. They were the parents of three 
children, one of whom died in infancy. 
The others are Earl and Elizabeth. She 
was a graduate of the high school at Hunt- 
ley, subsequently attended the Cook County 
Normal and the Illinois State Normal. 
Later she was a teacher in the public 
schools. 

In politics Mr. Gross is a Republican 
and in religion a Methodist. He is a Mason 
of the thirty-second degree, and has been 
prominently identified with Masonry in the 
state since uniting with the order. He is a 
member of the Mystic Shrine and of the 
Medinah Temple, Chicago, and of Freeport 
Consistory. He is also a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America. As a Re- 
publican he has taken an active part in the 
affairs of his party, although it is as an edu- 
cator that he is best known. In e\er\- part 
of the county he has stanch friends who re- 
gard him highly, and who know his worth 
as a citizen and his ability as superintendent 
of the public-schools. 



SOLISTON BEAUBIEN, who is living a 
retired life in the city of De Kalb, is a 
native of Detroit, Michigan, born March 4, 

1 83 1, and is the son of Mark and Monicke 
Beaubien, both of whom were natives of 
Michigan, but of French parentage. Mark 
Beaubien was a prominent figure, in the 
early settlement of Illinois, and did much in 
the infant days of Chicago, in building it up. 
He removed from Detroit to Chicago, in 

1832, where he later erected several build- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ings, one being the Illinois Exchange. He 
engaged in the mercantile trade, operated 
a ferry which crossed the Chicago river, 
and opened and kept the first hotel in Chi- 
cago. He accumulated some wealth, pre- 
vious to his death, which occurred in April, 
1881. Politically he was an active Repub- 
lican. He was twice married, and obeyed 
the divine injunction to multiply and re- 
plenish the earth by being the father of 
twenty-three children, Soliston being a son 
by his first wife. 

Soliston Beaubien grew to manhood in 
Chicago, and there commenced his active 
business career. He remained in Chicago 
up to 1837, when he went to Du Page 
county, Illinois, and there purchased a farm 
of two hundred and sixty acres, where he 
lived for fourteen years. In 185 1, he re- 
moved to Aurora, where he engaged in the 
livery business, being the first in that town. 
After a few years, however, he found his 
way back to Chicago, and there engaged in 
the hotel business on the Oplain river. Tir- 
ing of this he returned to his farm, and re- 
mained there three years. He next went 
to Mt. Morris, Ogle county, Illinois, where 
he opened a harness shop, which he con- 
ducted with marked success. He sold out, 
however, and moved to La Salle, Illinois, 
where he engaged in the same business, 
but soon sold to one of his workman, and 
again fell back on his farm, where he spent 
three years of rural contentment. 

The life of a farmer did not seem to 
agree with him. so he removed to Sterling, 
Illinois, and there engaged in the livery 
business for seven years. Once more he 
sold out and returned to his farm, and there 
remained six years. I'^rom his farm he 
went to Aurora and engaged in the restau- 
rant and bakery business, where he remained 



three years; he then went to Waterman 
and operated a road grader. He next went 
to Fox River, where he kept a restaurant 
for two years. In 1881, he sold his farm 
and removed to De Kalb. where his wander- 
ing ceased. On moving to that place, he 
purchased a boot and shoe store, including 
the stock of Robert Ryles. To this his 
daughter-in-law, Mrs. O. M. Beaubien. 
added a stock of millinery goods, and had 
charge of that department. This business 
he carried on for four years, when he sold 
out to his son, and retired from active busi- 
ness life. He now owns considerable citj' 
property, the oversight of which keeps him 
busy. 

On the 30th of September, 1850, Mr. 
Baubien was united in marriage, in Du Page 
county, Illinois, with Miss Rosa Normanda, 
a native of Canada, born in September, 
1833, and a daughter of Peter and Char- 
lotte Normanda, early settlers of Du Page 
county. By this union four children were 
born, only one of whom is now living, 
Oliver, a resident of De Kalb. who was 
born in the city of La Salle, Illinois, in 
1854, is now engaged in the real estate busi- 
ness in De Kalb, Illinois. 



FRANK O. VAN GALDER, of the firm 
of Van Galder & Boies, publishers of 
the True Republican, Sycamore, Illinois, 
was born near Janesville, Wisconsin, Janu- 
ary 6, 1855, and is the son of Truman W. 
and Mary (Phelps) Van Galder, the former 
a native of Niagara county. New York, and 
the latter of Livingston county, of the same 
state. The \'an Galders were originally 
from Holland, but were early settlers in 
Vermont, from which state they moved to 
New York. The Phelps family were early 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



settlers of Pennsylvania, from which state 
they also moved to New York. Later the 
respective families moved to Ohio, and at 
Montville, January 29, 1843, Truman \V. 
Van Galder and Mary Phelps were united 
in marriage. Soon after their marriage 
they moved to Michigan, and in 1851 to 
Rock county, Wisconsin, locating on a 
farm near Janes\ilie, at which place our 
subject was born. From that place they 
came to Sycamore, Illinois, where he en- 
gaged in the manufacture of brick, in which 
occupation he continued until his death, 
January 24, 1882. In politics he was a 
Republican and took an active interest in 
political affairs. His widow, who is yet 
living in Sycamore, is a member of the 
Universalist church. They were the parents 
of nine children, of whom seven are yet 
living. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
a farm and received his education in the 
common schools. In his youth he learned 
the trade of brick-making, acquiring a 
practical knowledge of all the details of the 
business. In 1874 he went into the office 
of the Free Methodist, a religious paper 
published in Sycamore, with a \ iew of 
learning the printer's trade. In that office 
he continued four years, after which he en- 
tered the office of the News at De Kalb, 
where he was employed for a few months. 
Returning to Sycamore he went into the 
office of the True Republican, where he re- 
mained but a short time, and in January, 
1878, in partnership with Cass Davis, 
started the publication of the Free Press, 
the business being conducted under the firm 
name of \'an Galder & Davis. The latter 
part of the year he sold his interest in the 
Free Press to his partner, and purchased a 
half interest in the Sycamore City Weekly, 



then conducted by V. Hix, with which 
paper he was connected until October, i 887, 
when he sold to Mr. Hix, and purchased 
the interest of the late H. L. Boies in the 
True Republican. In 1895 he received the 
appointment as editor of the official paper 
of the Modern Woodmen of America, and 
was re-appointed in 1897 and still holds 
that position. 

Mr. Van Galder was married March 17, 
1881, to Miss Florence M. Talbot, who was 
born in Cortland, Illinois, aud is a daughter 
of Charles A. and Harriet (Newell) Talbot, 
natives of England. By this union there 
have been three children — Anna Claire, 
Cora May and Charles T. The family now 
reside on California street. Sycamore. The 
parents are members of the Methodist 
church, in which he is an especially active 
worker. In politics he is a stalwart Re- 
publican, and for five years held the office 
of city clerk of Sycamore. Fraternally 
he is a member of the Masonic Order, the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the 
Modern Woodmen of America. In the lat- 
ter order he wields a great influence and is 
well-posted in its various lines af work. .As 
a citizen he is progressive, and socially he 
is held in high esteem. 



GR. HOLMES, a well-known liveryman 
of De Kalb, Illinois, has been engaged 
in the business for thirteen years. He is 
well and centrally located on Main street, 
where he enjoyed the deser\ed patronage 
of the public. He keeps a number of well- 
conditioned horses, and a large variety of 
buggies, phaetons and other vehicles, to 
please the taste and satisfy the desire of his 
numerous patrons. His stables are well 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



kept, thoroughly ventilated and sufficiently of whom died in infancy. The living are 

lighted. Ella M., born in 1863; MaryC. in 1865; 

Mr. I lohncs is a iiati\c of Oneida conn- Seth W., in 186S; Georj^'e H., in 1871; 

ty. New \u\k, horn Juno 11, 1840. His Hert D., in 1881 ; ami Cl\(ie K., in 1884. 
parents wi-rc Richard and Liicntia Holmes, 

holii ol whom were natues of New York 

slate. In carh' lile, Kiciiard Holmes was 



enj^af,'ed in the mercantile trade, but in after /'>HARLES A. HUBBARD, who lives a 
Hfe gave it up for the more quiet pursuit of V> retired life in the village of Hinckley, 
farming. In 1847, he came west, and lo- hut who for years was one of the active and 
Gated in Paw Paw township, De Kalb coun- enterprising farmers of De Kalb counts, 
ty, Illinois, where he entered four hundred dates his residence since the fall of 1852. 
and eighty acres of land. This he kept He is a native of Massachusetts, born in 
until land was in greater demand, when he Pittstield, Berkshire county, June 2, 1827, 
sold at a fair advance on the purchase price, and is the son of Enoch and Marietta (Tracy) 
He came west in order that his sons might Hubbard, the former a native of Dalton, 
be provided with farms sufficiently large to Massachusetts, and the latter of Pittsfield, 
make them comfortable homes. In this Berkshire county, the same state. She was 
new country he was a man of influence as a daughter of Appleton Tracy, who was 
well as means, and was elected to several born' in the same county and state, the 
offices by his numerous friends. He was family being among the early settlers of 
born in 1802, and died in 1887, after a Massachusetts. The Hubbards are of Eng- 
prosperous and useful life of eighty-five lish descent, the first of the name locating 
years. in Connecticut. The paternal grandfather. 
The subject of th's sketch is the young- Enoch Hubbard, Sr , was Ijorn in Berkshire 
est of three sons born to Richard and Lu- county, Massachusetts, where his entire life 
cretia Holmes. He began his business ca- was spent. Enoch Hubbard, )r., the fa- 
rcer in the township of Paw Paw, where he ther of our subject, also spent his entire life 
owned a farm of two hundred and forty in Berkshire county, Msssachnsetts, there 
acres. He followed farming up to 1885, dying at the age of seventy-three years, 
when he sold out and removed t(j De Kalb, His wife survived him a nund)er of years, 
where he engaged in his present business. They were the parents of nine children, all 
He married Frances M. Hinckley, a native of whom grew to mature years, and of the 
of Maine, born July 24, 1844, and a daugh- number seven survive. The children were 
ter of Dr. 1). Hinckley, of La Salle count}-. Mrs. Mary E. Robinson, who resides in 
Her parents removed from New I^ngland l^erkshire county, Nfassachnsetts; Enoch, 
in 1848, and located in La Salle county, a farmer resiiling in Lincoln, Nebraska; 
Illinois, where Dr. Hinckley enjoyed a wide Charles A., of this review; Sarah A., wife 
reputation as a skilled physician. The mar- of Daniel Foot, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts; 
riage of Mr. Holmes and Miss Hinckley Washington, who died at the age of twenty 
was solemnized December 24, 1866, and years; Mrs. Lydia E. Henry, residing at 
by this union seven children were born, one Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Edward N., who 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



73 



died at the age of tliirty-six jears, in Malta, 
Illinois, being numbered among the early 
settlers of De Kalb county; Martha, wife of 
A. E. Elliott, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts; 
and Elsie A , wife of Jean Harrington, of 
New York city. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, 
and had fair school advantages in early life. 
After reaching the age of nineteen years, he 
worked in woolen mills for six years. In 
his native county. May i, 1851, he married 
Miss Eunice Apthorp, a native of the town 
of Hinsdale, Berkshire county, Massa- 
chusetts, and a daughter of James and Betsy 
(Stearns) Apthorp. By this union were si.x 
children, one of whom is deceased. The 
living are Albert E., who is married and 
engaged in farming in De Kalb county; 
James A , a carpenter and farmer, residing 
near Lemars, Iowa. George W., married 
and operating the old home place, Elmer 
E., engaged in farming near Rochester, New 
York; and Marietta, a well educated young 
lady, a teacher in the high schools at Adrian, 
Michigan. The deceased was Charles S., 
who died at the age of fourteen years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hubbard have now seventeen 
grandchildren. 

In 1S52 Mr. Hubbard came to De Kalb 
county, Illinois, and located in Pierce town- 
ship, arriving in time to assist in its organi- 
sation. He bought a tract of one hundred 
and sixty acres of raw land and at once 
commenced its improvement. He later 
bought forty acres additional, making him a 
fine farm of two hundred acres, on which in 
due time he erected a nice residence, with 
good barns and other outbuildings, planted 
an orchard and tiled the place, making of it 
one of the best farms in Pierce township. 
After living there a number of years he 



rented the farm and mo^ed to Curilaiid ttj 
give his boys a better chance for obtaining 
an education. He resided there about two 
years, and then returned to the farm, but in 
i8cS5 moved to Aurora, that some of his 
children might enter Jennings Seminary. 
However, he only resided there one year, 
and then went to Hinckley, where he pur- 
chased a lot and built a residence in the 
place, since which time he has been living 
retired. 

Mr. Hubbard commenced life in De Kalb 
county, Illinois, with very limited means, and 
b}' his own labor and enterprise he has ac- 
cumulated a valuable property and is recog- 
nized as one of the substantial men of the 
county. Politically he was formerly a Re- 
publican and supported the men and meas- 
ures of that party for many years. Always 
a strong temperance man, and also believ- 
ing in the rights of tlie common people, 
he has of late years supported the Prohi- 
bition party. As a representative he was 
twice a delegate to the state Prohibition 
convention in 1884 and 1S98. For sij; years 
he was a member of the board of super- 
visors, an office which he was filling at the 
time of his removal to Aurora. While on 
the board he served on a number of impor- 
tant committee^, being chairman of the 
claims committee and also chairman of the 
education committee. In 1858 he was 
elected justice of the piace in Pierce town- 
ship and served until 1869. Religiousl}', he 
and his wife are active members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church at Hinckle}', in which 
he serves as a member of the official board. 
For forty-six years he has been a resident 
of De Kalb county, Illinois, and has not 
only witnessed the wonderful transformation 
in the state, but has been an important fac- 
tor in producing the ciiange. He is a man 



74 



THIC I5I0(;R.\PH1CAL RICCOKL). 



1)1 exciiipliuy liabiLs. strict integrity and has 
the ronliilencc of the conitminity in which 
lie lias loiiL' made his home. 



MH.WRAHAN, who is engaged in the 
livery business and in conducting a 
bus line, with office and stables corner t)f 
Second and Grove streets, De Kalb, Illi- 
nois, has one of the best ecjuipped estab- 
lishments of its kind in the state. The ex- 
perience of Mr. Hanrahaii in this line ex- 
tends over a period of several years. In 
1889 he began the livery business in De 
Kalb, and has proved his eminent fitness for 
it. His stables are furnished with all the 
latest improved stable fixtures, with accom- 
modations for fifteen head of horses and 
twice as many vehicles. His turnouts are 
not surpassed for style and elegance anj'- 
where in De Kalb county. 

Mr. Hanrahan is a native of Sheboygan 
county, Wisconsin, born in August, 1858. 
He is a son of Patrick and Alice (Carroll) 
Hanrahan, who were both natives of Ire- 
land, and who came to this country about 
1842. They removed from. New York, 
where they first located, to Wisconsin, in 
1853. Patrick Hanrahaii was by occupa- 
tion a farmer during his entire life. His 
death occurred in Sheboygan county in 
J 859. His wife is yet living and still makes 
her home in Sheboygan count)', Wisconsin. 
Mr. Hanrahan was reared and educated 
in the county of his birth and followed farm- 
ing for twenty-two years. In 1880 he came 
to De Kalb, where for two years he con- 
tinued farming operations, and then entered 
the barb-wire factory, where he remained 
for two years. In 1884 he was interested 
in the sale of coal and lumber, under the 
firm name of Brown & Youngs, where he 



remained five years. In iSSt) \\r entered 
upon his present business, in which his suc- 
cess has surpassed his own expectations. 
His bus attends the incoming of all trains, 
conveying passengers to hotels and resi- 
dences. He owns ten tine road horses, 
whose silky coats show that the eye of the 
master is looking after their welfare. 

On the 3d of October, 1883, he took for 
his wife Miss Mary Hannan, daughter of 
Martin and Catherine Hannan, and to them 
have been born four children; Alice, born 
in 1884; Mary, in 1888; Hazel, in 1882; and 
George, in 1896. Mrs. Hanrahan is a na- 
tive of New Jersey ami was born in 1 S60. 



THOMAS M. CLIFFE, senior member of 
the firm of Clif?e Bros., attorneys at law, 
is a well-known member of the Sycamore 
bar, one who has the love for his profession 
at heart, and has attained distinction as one 
of its ablest members. He was born in 
Sycamore, January 16, 1866, and was edu- 
cated in its public schools, graduating from 
the high school in 1883. He is a son of 
Thomas Cliffe, a native of England, who 
came to .America when a boy, and located 
first in Boston where he was in the boot 
and shoe trade, and in 1857 came to Syca- 
more, Illinois, where he also engaged in the 
boot and shoe trade, but is now living re- 
tired. He married Mary A. Collins, a na- 
tive of Ireland, "who came to America, in 
company with a brother, when she was quite 
young. They were the parents of eight 
children, six of whom are living. 

Thomas M. Cliffe was reared in Syca- 
more, and after graduating from the public 
school commenced reading law with Judge 
Charles Kellum, and later with Harvey A. 
Jones, after which he attended the Union 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



75 



Colleg^e of Law, in Chicago, from which 
he was graduated in 1887. He then 
passed an examination before the Appel- 
late Court of the state and, September 
26th, was licensed to practice. Shortly 
after his admission he commenced to prac- 
tice, and little later formed a partnership 
with C. D. Rogers, which continued for 
a time, and in 1894 he formed a part- 
nership with his brother, James W. Cliffe. 
In October, 1897, the firm of Cliffe Broth- 
ers was formed by the admission of Adam 
C. Cliffe, as a member of the firm. The 
firm has been quite successful in their busi- 
ness, and has now quite a large clientage, 
our subject being recognized as one of the 
leading advocates of the bar of De Kalb 
county. From 1889 to 1 891, he was city 
attorney of Sycamore, and since March, 
1898, has been master in chancery of the 
Circuit Court of De Kalb county, receiving 
his appointment from Judge C. A. Bishop. 
During the past eleven years he has figured 
in some of the most important cases on trial 
in the circuit courts of De Kalb and ad- 
joining counties. He was the defendant's 
attorney in the Kerwin murder case, which 
was on trial at Geneva. Kane county. He 
was also employed in Pooler will case, and 
in the Solomon will case, together with 
many other noted trials in the county. He 
has been a Mason since 1889, and holds 
membership with the blue lodge, chapter 
and commandery, at Sycamore; now serv- 
ing as worshipful master, chief ranger of the 
Kishwaukee Court of Foresters, and is a 
prominent and enthusiastic Odd Fellow. 
In politics he is a Republicnn, and is active 
on the stump in every political campaign. 
He is a member of the Republican county 
central committee, from Sycamore, and is 
chairman of its executive committee. 



September 14, 189S, he was married 
to Miss Esther Stroberg, and they reside on 
Main street. 

James W. Cliffe, of the firm of Cliffe 
Brothers, was also born in Sycamore, and 
educated in its public schools. He read law 
with his brother, Thomas M., and after 
passing an examination, was admitted to 
the bar in May, 1S94. Immediately after- 
wards, he formed a partnership with his 
brother, in the practice of his profession, 
which relation is still continued. He has 
also been quite active in politics, as a mem- 
ber of the Republican party, and is now 
serving as alderman from the Third ward. 
Fraternally, he is a member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the 
Foresters. In February, 1898, he married 
Mae'E. Wharry. 

Adam C. Cliffe, junior member of the 
firm of Cliffe Brothers, was born in Syca- 
more, June 25, 1869, and grew to manhood 
in his native city, receiving his education in 
the public schools, being a graduate of the 
Sycamore high school, of the class of 1885. 
After his graduation, he engaged in teach- 
ing for several years, being principal of the 
public school of Hinckley one ye.ar, of 
Shabbona three years, and of Franklin 
Grove, two years. He attended the North- 
western University Law School, from which 
he was graduated in the class of 1897, and 
was admitted to the bar in May of that 
year, and in October, following, became a 
member of the firm of Cliffe Brothers. He 
is also prominent in Masonry, and is a 
member of the blue lodge and chapter at 
Sycamore, and of the Aurora council and 
Sycamore commandery. Has been promi- 
nent in Knights of Pythias circles. He is 
also a member of Sycamore Lodge, No. 105, 
I. O. O. F., and of the Modern Woodmen 



76 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cf Aineriia. In politics he is also a Re- 
public;! n. Hf is U'jw serviiij; ;is a member 
ai the biiard of education ol the city of Syca- 
nioic. 



JOHN OTT is a worthy representati\e of 
the farming interests, and resides upon 
section 5, Squaw Ciro\e township, where he 
owns a valuabli; farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres, a portion of which has been in 
his possession for thirty-two \ears. He 
was born in Mecklenberg, Germany, in 
April, 1833, and there grew to manhood and 
received his education in the common 
schools. In 1856 he emigrated to the 
United States, taking ship at Hamburg and 
was about six weeks on the broad Atlantic. 
Landing at New York he came directly west 
to Illinois, and located in Big Rock town- 
. ship, Kane county, where he went to work 
by the month on a farm and continued to 
be thus employed for five years. In Au- 
gust, 1 86 1, he enlisted in Company B, 
Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
went with his regiment to St. Louis, and 
later participated in the battles of Pea 
Ridge, Perryville and Missionary Ridge. 
He then participated in the Atlanta cam- 
paign, being in various engagements, in one 
of which he was wounded, being shot 
through the foot and captured by the 
enemy in the engagement at Stone River. 
He was taken to Libby Prison, where he 
remained some five or six months, was then 
exchanged, and later sent to St. Louis, but 
joined his regiment in Tennessee, partici- 
pated in several battles and skirmishes until 
the close of the war. Among other en- 
gagemenls in which he jjarticipated were 
Chickam.ujga, Kenesaw Mountain, Franklin 
and Nasinillc. He was finally discharged 



at Springheld, after four years of hard 
service. 

Returning to I!ig Rock, Kane count\, 
he there remained until the spring of 1S66, 
when he came to De Kalh county, and pur- 
chased forty acres of raw land, on which a 
small house had been erected. Locating 
here he began the improvement of his little 
place, and from time to time added to his 
possession until the home farm comprises 
one hundred and sixty acres, in addition to 
which he now owns a farm adjoining, com- 
prising one hundred and twenty-four acres, 
and another, one mile west of Hinckley, 
having two hundred and twenty-one acres, 
all of which are well-improved and very 
valuable farms. 

Mr. Ott was married in Aurora, Illinois, 
January 1, 1866, to Miss Sophia Stoldt, a 
native of Mecklenberg, Germany, who 
there grew to womanhood, coming to 
America with her parents, who located in 
Kane county, Illinois. By this union there 
are eleven children as follows: William, who 
yet resides at home, and assists in operating 
the home farm; Louie E., married and re- 
siding on one of the Ott farms; Charles W.. 
who is engaged in farming in Squaw Grove 
township; Christian ]., married, and residing 
on the farm near Hinckle}'; Fred A. and 
Henry W., at home; Minnie, wife of Neal 
Anderson, of Kane county; Matilda, wife of 
Christian Skau, of De Kalb county; Lena, 
wife of Thomas Gormley, of Pierce town- 
ship; Lizzie, wife of Charles Cole, of Chi- 
cago, and Marie, a young lady at home. 

Politically Mr. Ott is a Republican, and 
cast his first presidential ballot for Al)raham 
l^incoln in 1864. While he has ever taken 
an interest in political affairs, iu' has never 
accepted public office. Religiously he and 
his wife are members of the German Luth- 




JOHN OTT, 




MRS. JOHN OTT, 



THE BIOCxRAPHICAL RECORD. 



8i 



eran church. Comniencin;^ life a poor 
man, by his <j\vn industry, assisted by his 
good wife, lie has been very successful, and 
is numbered among the most substantial 
farmers of Squaw Grove township and De 
Ivalb county. 



AIv. IvELLOGG, deceased, who for some 
years was managing accountant of the 
Superior Barb Wire Company, was well 
known throughout De Kalb county, as well 
as to business men throughout the west. 
He was a native of Franklin county, New 
York, born August 19, 1846, and was the 
son of Benjamin and Mary P. Kellogg, the 
former a native of Vermont and the latter 
of Rome, New York. Benjamin Kellogg 
was an industrious, upright man, and in his 
younger days he was engaged in the hard- 
ware business, but in later years he followed 
farming with some degree of success. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in his native state, and there married, 
November 16, 1875, to Miss Emily J. Mar- 
tin, the accomplished daughter of Allan H. 
and Priscilla E. Martin. She was born in 
Georgia, Franklin county, Vermont, May 10, 
1845. By this union four children were 
born: Bertha E., born in 1876; Clara L., 
in 1878; Mary P., in 1880; and Agnes A. 
(deceased), in 1884. 

In 1880 Mr. Kellogg came to De Kalb, 
Illinois, and was employed as bookkeeper 
for I. L. Elwood for two years, but by his 
close attention to business, his excellent 
disposition and upright life he gained the 
favor, not only of his employer, but the 
public generally, and it opened up for him 
a new and better field. For the deepinter- 
(jst he took in his employer's business — 
indeed he made it his own business — he 



was promoted to the office of managing ac- 
countant of the Superior Barb Wire Com- 
pany and filled that position faithfully and 
well for thirteen years. No duty was slighted 
or left undone, and sterling integrity marks 
his brief and uneventful life. For three 
years he was an invalid, the strain on his 
s\'stem being too much, and he at last suc- 
cumbed to the inevitable, his death taking 
place January 22, 1896. He was not a 
politician and filled no political office, but for 
several years served as notary public. In 
his death the community lost an excellent 
citizen and the company with which he was 
associated a faithful employee. 



DANIEL BLACK, foreman of the bridge 
building department of the N. I. cV C. 
branch of the Northwestern Railroad, with 
headquarters at De Kalb, Illinois, was born 
in St. Thomas, Ontario, July 11, 1838, and 
is the son of Daniel and Jeannette (McDer- 
mott) Black, natives of Scotland, and the 
parents of sixteen children, of whom our 
subject is the only surviving member. He 
was left motherless and fatherless early in 
his youth. 

In his native town our subject grew to 
manhood and received a fair education in 
the schools of the place. In his youth he 
learned the carpenter's trade, securing a 
thorough knowledge of it in all its branches. 
In 1856, at the age of twenty years, he left 
his native town, the happy scenes of his 
childhood and youth, for Buffalo, New- 
York, where he secured work at his trade, 
and there resided for one year, when he 
came west, taking up his residence in Chi- 
cago. On the 4th of October, 1859, he 
married Miss Jennie McAdams, a native of 
Glasgow, Scotland, born in 1842, and a 



82 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth iVic- 
Adams, also natives of the same countr)-. 
By this union seven children were born, four 
of whom are li\ing: Walter S. , born in' 
1861; W. H., in 1866; Isabel, in 1.S68; and 
Jennie H., in 1870. 

For more than thirty-live years Mr. 
Black has been connected with the North- 
western Railway Company, the last five 
years being foreman on building bridges and 
vvater supply on the N. I. & C. branch, and 
is now serving under the fourth adminstra- 
tion. He assisted in the building of the 
first passenger depot of the road, on Kinzie 
and Canal streets, Chicago, in 1862. In 
1868 he built the round house of the com- 
pany at Kanasco, Wisconsin, and in 1868 
built the round house at Escanaba, Michi- 
gan. In 1875 he supermtended the build- 
ing of their shops in Chicago. He is a 
thorough mechanic and understands all the 
requirements of his ofiice, as i.« evidenced 
by his long continued service. Fraternally 
he is a member of the Knights of Pylhias, 
and also of the Knights of Honor, in which 
orders he has held high offices. 



HON. ROBERT HAMPTON, who re- 
sides on section 7, Paw Paw township, 
is a well-known citizen of the county, hav- 
ing resided here a period of fifty-two years. 
He is a native of Canada, born in the prov- 
ince of Ontario, March 27, 1821. His 
father, James Hampton, was a native of 
Pennsylvania, born in 1796, of which state, 
his grandfather, Jonathan Hampton, was 
also a native. The family is of English 
descent, three brothers coming from that 
country in 1745, one locating in New Jer- 
sey, another in South Carolina, and the 



third in Nova Scotia. Our subject is a de- 
scendant of the one locating in New Jersey. 
From Pennsylvania, in 1 Soo, Jonathan 
Hanipton moved to Canada and located 
about thirty miles north of Toronto, a sec- 
tion which was then but a wilderness, and 
where he secured a tract of government 
land. He died there some twelve years 
later. James Hampton, his son, was then 
but a youth of si.xteen years. After arriv- 
ing at man's estate, he there married Miss 
Clarissa McCarty, born near Saratoga, and 
a daughter of William McCarty, who was a 
son of John McCarty, a pioneer of Saratoga 
county, New York. John McCarty was a 
soldier in the Revolutit^nary war, being at- 
tached to the army under General Gates, 
and was present when General Burgoyne 
surrendered to his commander. He was a 
native of county Tyrone, Ireland, and came 
to the New World when a young man. He 
married a Scotch lady. 

James Hampton, the father of our sub- 
ject, was a farmer in Ontario, Canada, un- 
til 1838, when he came to the states and in 
1839 located in Adams county, where he 
engaged in farming until the breaking out of 
the Me.xican war, when he joined the Mor- 
mon battalion, under General Kearney-, and 
died on the Rio Grande, while in the serv- 
ice, November 9, 1846, at the age of fifty 
years. His w^ife survived him a number of 
years, dying October 8, 1889, at the age of 
eighty-nine years. They were the parents 
of three sons and five daughters, of whom 
our subject is the eldest. William P. and 
Jonathan are farmers residing in Lee county. 
The latter was a member of the Fourth 
Illinois Cavalry, during the Civil war. The 
daughters all grew to mature j'ears and each 
of them married and became well settled 
in life. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



83 



The subject of this sketch was se\ enteen 
years old when he accompanied his parents 
to Adams county, Illinois. In his native 
country he received a conunon-schuol edu- 
cation, which served as the foundation for 
the knowledge acquired in after years by 
reading and observation. He remained in 
Adams county until 1846, engaged princi- 
pally in farm work bj' the month. In 1845, 
however, he rented a small farm and en- 
gaged in farming for himself. In the spring 
of 1846 he came to De Kalb county, having 
but five dollars in money and a little stock. 
For one year he worked at anything that he 
could find to do, but in 1847 entered eighty 
acres of land, built a small log house si.\- 
teen by twenty feet, in which he lived while 
improving his place. In 1851 he built a 
frame house, which in 1869 gave place to 
his present tine residence. In his agricult- 
ural operations he has met with fair success, 
and is now the owner of three hundred and 
si.xty acres, mostly inclosed with a neat and 
well-trimmed hedge fence. All that he has 
was acquired by his own labor, with the as- 
sistance of his wife and sons. 

Mr. Hampton was married in Hancock 
county, Illinois, January i, 1843, to Miss 
Lydia Zemmer, a native of Ohio, reared in 
Richland county, that state, and a daughter 
of Frederick Zemmer, who there died. 
Mrs. Hampton's grandfather, Caspar Wal- 
ters served in the Revolutionary war. Her 
grandparents were of German descent. Her 
grandfather and grandmother Zemmerman 
and an aunt were massacred by Indians in 
Ohio in an early day. Her mother later 
moved to Adams county. Illinois. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hampton have been the parents of 
eight children. Hiram died at the age of 
fourteen years. William S,, a minister of 
the Congregational church, is now located 



at Silver Creek, Nebraska. Joseph P. is a 
farmer residing in Greene county, Iowa. 
Marrietta resides at home. Robert F. is 
engaged in operating the home farm. Riley 
J. is engaged in business at Chico, California. 
Lydia A. is the wife of T. P. Ualton, of 
Paw Paw, Lee county. Harriet D. is the 
wife of S. M. Henderson, of Waterman, 
Illinois. 

In early manhood Mr. Hampton was 
identified with the Democratic party, cast- 
ing his first presidential vote for James K. 
Polk in 1844. From the organization of 
the Republican party he has been an ear- 
nest supporter of its principles. He was first 
elected commissioner of highways in 1850, 
and served three years. He was then 
elected supervisor and served five years, 
then one year as assessor, and again elected 
supervisor, serving five years more. In the 
fall of 1866, he was elected a member of the 
legislature, and served one regular term and 
two special sessions. During the time he 
was on several important committees, and 
made a valuable member of the house. In 
the spring of 1873, he was elected super- 
visor of his township, which office he re- 
signed in the fall of the same year, being 
elected county treasurer, in which office he 
served one term. Since that time he has 
served several years as supervisor, a portion 
of which time being chairman of the board. 
He has also served as justice of the peace 
for some years, and in the various conven- 
tions of his party he has usually been a 
delegate. He is a member of the East Paw 
Paw Methodist Episcopal church, in which 
he is now serving as steward. He was 
formerly a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, at East Paw Paw, 
and for years was a member of the Sons of 
Temperance and Good Templars, taking a 



84 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



very active interest in both orders. F"evv 
men are better known in De Kaib county, 
and none more highly respected. 



ALEXANDER RAY, deceased, was a 
wealthy and influential farmer of De 
Kalb township. He was born in Scotland, 
in 1819, and immigrated to this country 
just as he reached his majority. He spent 
some years in the New England states pre- 
vious to his removal west, and being of a 
mechanical turn of mind, he became inter- 
ested in the cotton mills of the east, where 
he was engaged as a trusted and profitable 
employee. While still residing in the east, 
on the 31st of October, 1850, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Eliza A. Anderson, a 
native of county Tyrone, Ireland, born in 
1826, and a daughter of James and Eliza 
Anderson, both of whom were natives of 
the same country. By this union four chil- 
dren were born, of whom two are now liv- 
ing: George, born June 9, 1853, and Frank, 
January 5, 1864. The deceased were Isa- 
bel M., born September 13, 1851, and who 
died March 3, 1883, and Robert, February 
7, 1859, and who died March 9, 1892. 

The desire to better his fortunes induced 
our subject to come west, and 1855 he lo- 
cated in Maytield township, De Kalb county, 
where he purchased one hundred and si.xtj' 
acres of prairie land, which he highly im- 
proved, and to it added one hundred and sixty 
acres more. This, too, he reclaimed and 
brought under the subject of the plow. On 
account of failing health he later sold one of 
his farms and removed to the city of De 
Kalb, to rest and recruit his wasted energies. 
.After a few years of restfulness he became 
anxious to see the Creator's handiwork in 
the growth and development of the animal 



and vegetable kingdom, which only the true 
agriculturist can appreciate. Therefore, 
after mature thought, he purchased a farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres in De Kalb 
township, which is now owned by his widow, 
and upon which his son Frank now resides. 
Alexander Ray departed this life in 18S5. 
He was an exemplary man, one in whom his 
neighbors could trust, on whom they could 
lean in time of need. He was a man of 
marked social qualities, mild disposition 
and an even temperament. While residing 
in the city of De Kalb, he served as alder- 
man for several years faithfully and well. 
No duty was left undone, no trifle over- 
looked. For years he was an honored and 
consistent member of the Congregational 
church, having a love for the Master and 
glory of his cause. Mrs. Kay now resides 
in the city of De Kalb, and like her husband 
is a faithful follower of the Master and a 
member of the Congregational church. 



HARKER MULLEN, an engineer and 
inventor, of Sycamore, Illinois, has 
been a resident of De Kalb county for fifty- 
nine years. He was born in the town of 
Kingston, Sullivan county. New York, July 
31, 1835, and is the son of John and Phebe 
(Brown) Mullen. The former was a native 
of Sullivan county. New York, and was the 
son of Philip Mullen, who lived and died in 
New York when past eighty years of age. 
John Mullen by trade was a carpenter and 
builder, which occupation he followed after 
coming west, but later purchased a farm of 
two hundred acres at Pleasant Hill, where 
he lived until his death at the age of eighty- 
five years. His wife, Phebe Brown, was 
born at Rockland, Sullivan county, New 
York, her father, Obediah Brown, who mar- 



THF. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



^5 



ried a French wonmti, being a vessel owner 
and sea captain, who sailed all over the 
known world. 

In the fall of 1S39. when but four 3ears 
of age, our subject came with his parents to 
Sycamore township, where he was reared, 
and, as he e.xpresses it, "ran barefoot and 
grew up among the rag weeds and stumps." 
The school facilities in that early day were 
very poor, and as his parents were in poor 
circumstances he was enabled to attend 
school but a short time in winter months, 
but even then was kept out at least one day 
in each week to assist in the farm work. 
He remained at home until his marriage in 
Ivingston township, with Miss Harriet A. 
Collier, a daughter of Joseph and Mary 
(Phillips) Collier, early settlers of De Kalb 
county. By this union were born two chil- 
dren: Mary E. married Theo. Shuey, by 
whom he has three children — Emma, Eva 
and Frederick. They reside in Story coun- 
ty, Iowa. Frank L. married Millie Drake, 
and they have two children, Hoyt and Ha- 
zel. He is a competent engineer, and is in 
the employ of the Patten Manufacturing 
Company. 

After his marriage Mr. Mullen saw the 
necessity of possessing more knowledge, 
and studied by himself during his spare 
moments. He soon acquired sufficient 
knowledge to enable him to pass an exam- 
ination, and for several terms engaged in 
teaching in the public schools. At the age 
of twenty-one he rented a farm and for 
some years followed agricultural pursuits. 
Later he went to Nevada, where he worked 
in stamping mills and learned engineering. 
Returning home, he entered the employ of 
the Marsh Harvester Company, with which 
he continued for nine years, as an engineer, 
or as an expert in the field during harvesting 



seasons. For one or two seasons he ran a 
traction engine, and one winter ran a sta- 
tionary engine in De Kalb, Illinois. He 
also ran the engine for Ellwood Manufact- 
uring Company six years, and about three 
years for Patten Manufacturing Company, 
and has been with Sycamore Electric Light 
Company for four years. 

In 1894 Mr. Mullen conceived the idea 
of constructing an engine that could be 
built without the expensive planing neces- 
sary in other engines. During spare mo- 
ments Mr. Mullen constructed patterns for 
the different parts of his engine, the casting 
from which as fast as finished being handed 
to machinists for finishing. When all were 
done the parts were put together, steam 
turned on and the engine has been running 
ever since without the slightest alteration, 
something never heard of before in engine 
building. In the construction of the engine, 
which is known as Mullen's oscillating en- 
gine, no machine work is necessary except 
turnings and borings, thus making it much 
cheaper than other engines of equal horse 
power; in fact it can be made for about half 
the price of other engines of like capacity. 
While oscillating in principle, it differs from 
other oscillating engines in that it has a 
slide valve instead of an oscillating cutoff. 
Being very firm and compact it requires no 
foundation, but can be set on an empty pine 
box and will then be firm enough for prac- 
tical use. 

In March, 1894, Mr. Mullen built a shop 
for the construction of engines. The pat- 
ent for the engines was granted May 5, 
1896. There is certainly a great future for 
the insention, as its compactness, simplic- 
ity, economy of space and cost of construc- 
tion, firmness without expensive foundation, 
and great power for weight and cost corn- 



86 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mend it to all users of steam power. The 
first engine constructed, which was of small 
size, has had four years of daily use, with- 
out any expense for repairs or any apparent 
wear or deterioration. In 1898 the in- 
ventor is preparing for the extensive manu- 
facture of his engine. One remarkable thing 
in connection with the engine is that no al- 
terations from the original model have ever 
been made. 

In politics Mr. Mullen is a Republican, 
and while living in the country served as 
school director. Fraternally he is a mem- 
ber of Genoa Lodge, No. 288, A. F. & A. 
M. As a citizen he commands the respect 
of all. 



WILLIAM FULLER, deceased, was a 
resident of De Kalb county, a farmer 
of wide reputation, who located here in 1853. 
He was a native of New York, and there 
grew to manhood, but on reaching his ma- 
jority, came west, and first located at Wil- 
mington, Will county, Illinois, where he 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
land, which he later sold at an advanced 
price, and on which he made a large profit. 
He then went to Iowa, where he purchased 
one thousand acres of government land, for 
speculative purposes. This last purchase 
was also sold at a high figure, and onl\ 
recently was the last of it disposed of. Mr. 
Fuller was a wise speculator, and rarely if 
ever missed his calculation. He had ac- 
cumulated a large fortune previous to his 
death, which occurred in 1890. 

In 1856, Mr. Fuller married Miss Elea- 
nor Campbell, a native of Wyoming count}'. 
New York, born in 1839, and the daughter 
of Amos and Martha Campbell, both of 
whom were natives of the same rouut\ ami 



state. The former was born in iSio, and 
died in 1871, while the latter was born in 
I 812, and died in October, 1896. By this 
union there were .seven children, six of whom 
are yet living — Frank, born in 1857; Flor- 
ence, in 1859; Edward, in 1861; Minnie, in 
1869; Kittie, in 1871; and Elva, in 1873. 
The parents of Mrs. Fuller moved from 
Wyoming county. New York, to De Kalb 
county, Illinois, in 1854, where he purcha.sed 
three hundred acres of land, but sold it 
three years later, and removed to North 
Plato, Kane county, Illinois, where he pur- 
chased eighty acres of land, upon which he 
remained until his death. 

William Fuller was one of the best 
farmers of De Kalb county, a man of simple 
habits, a loving husband, and an affectionate 
and indulgent father, his interests being 
centered in his family and property. His 
death was sincerely mourned, not alone by 
the family, but by a large circle of friends. 
Mrs. Fuller has left the farm, and is now 
living in ease and comfort in the city of De 
Kalb, where she has much city property, 
and where she is greatly esteemed and re- 
spected by the entire community. 



JOSEPH C. COSTER, of Hinckley, Illi- 
nois, is one of the representative farmers 
of De Kalb county, where he has been 
actively engaged in agricultural pursuits for 
about half a century. He is a native of 
New York, born in Rensselaer county, near 
Albany, August 18, 181 5, and is the son of 
Richard and Rachel (Cook) Coster, the 
former a native of Holland, who settled in 
Rensselaer county at a very early day, and 
the latter a native of New York, and a 
daughter of Joseph Cook, a pioneer of Ren- 
sselaer. Richari! Coster was a natin'al me- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



8; 



chanic, and for years was engjaged in the 
manufacture of shingles, and also in shoe- 
making. His wife died in New York, earh' 
in the '40s, while he survived her and spent 
the last years of his life with his son in De 
Kalb county, Illinois, dying here when about 
seventy years of age. They had a family 
of five sons and two daughters. Peter grew 
to manhood and married in New York, came 
west, settled near I\anevile, in Kane county, 
Illinois, bought a farm and later died there. 
Alexander H. came west, first located in 
De Kalb county, and later moved to Ore- 
gon, Ogle caunty, where he now resides. 
Joseph C. , the subject of this sketch, was 
next in order of birth. Rosetta married a 
Mr. Deming, but is now deceased. Rich- 
ard L. resides in Kent county, Michigan. 
Stephen is a resident of New York. Mrs. 
Rachel C. Weaver now resides in Hinckley, 
Illinois. 

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- 
hood and youth in his native county, where 
he received a very limited education. When 
fourteen years he commenced working on a 
farm, and at eighteen began life for himself. 
He worked by the month until twenty- 
three years of age, when he married Miss 
Maria Wicks, a native of Rensselaer county. 
By this union there were three children. 
Melvin grew to manhood, and enlisted in 
the war for the Union, in August, 1S62, 
and died while in the service, December 12, 
1862. Hattie P. died in March, 1848 at 
the age of eight years. One died in infancy. 

After his marriage Mr. Coster rented 
a farm which he worked on shares until 
1841, when he moved to Chenango county, 
where, in partnership with a cousin, he 
bought a farm of ninety acres, and leased 
si.xty acres additional. On that farm he 
resided for si.\ years, when he sold out and 



came west, locating in Sugar Grove town- 
ship, Kane county, Illinois, where he com- 
menced work on the old Judd farm, where 
he remained one year, in the meantime 
keeping house for the Judd's. In the spring 
of 1849 he came to De Kalb county, and 
purchased two hundred and ninety-five 
acres, the farm on which he now resides, 
giving for the same nine hundred dollars. 
There was a log house on the place, and 
about eight}' acres had been broken. He 
at once began the further improvement of 
the place, which is now one of the best 
farms in Sfjuaw Grove township. When he 
first located there were but few inhabitants 
in the township, but others came in, and 
the township was organized the following 
winter. In the spring of 1850 he was 
elected justice of the peace and served four 
3'ears. He has always been an enterprising 
man and gave the right of way to the rail- 
road, which runs through his farm, and also 
eight hundred d(jllars in cash and an acre 
of ground as an inducement to locate the 
depot at Hinckley. In addition to his 
original farm, he added from time to time 
until he was the owner of four hundred 
and fifty-five acres. He has since sold a 
portion of the same, and gave a daughter 
eighty acres. He also bought another 
farm in Squaw Grove township of one 
hundred and sixty acres, and purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres in Union coun- 
ty, Iowa. This land he held about thirty 
years, when he sold the same at a nice ad- 
vance. He was one of the original men to 
start and build the first creamery at Hinck- 
ley. At one time he owned over four hun- 
dred acres of land in Wisconsin, but has 
since sold all but forty acres. His first wife 
died August 25. 1850. April 21, 1853, for 
his second wife Mr. Coster married Mrs. 



^8 



THli BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Sophronia R. Bathrick, b}' whom he had 
six children, four of whom are lixing: Hat- 
tie M. is the wife of John H. Bauder, a 
merchant of Hinckley. Susy R. is the wife 
of John A. ^^■illiams, a prosperous farmer 
of Squaw (irove township, who owns a 
valuable farm of two hundred and ten acres. 
Mary C. is the wife of John T. Evans, a 
farmer of Squaw Grove township, .\lfred 
J. is married and is engaged in farming in 
Squaw Grove township, and .\rthur died 
when four years of age. By her first hus- 
band, Mrs. Coster had one son, Daniel D. 
Bathrick, now a business man of Chicago. 
In 1874 Mrs. Coster passed to her reward, 
and later Mr. Coster married Mrs. Mary E. 
Evans, a widow lady, who then resided at 
Piano. About two and a half years later 
she lost her life from injuries sustained in a 
runaway. In 1880, at Kaneville, Kane 
county, Illinois, Mr. Coster married Mrs. 
Keziah Scott, a native of England and a 
daughter of William Owens. She was 
reared in New York, and there married 
John Scott, who later came to Kane county, 
Illinois, where he engaged in the mercantile 
business at Kaneville for some years. By 
this marriage she became the mother of 
three sons and two daughters. George re- 
sides in Denver, Colorado. L. K. is a 
prominent business man of Aurora, Illinois. 
Walter W. resides in Beatrice, Nebraska. 
Lilly, the oldest daughter, married Charles 
Stevens and located near Beatrice, Ne- 
braska, but is now deceased. The other 
daughter, Clara, is the wife of John Evans, 
of Aurora, Illinois. Mrs. Keziah Coster 
died September 5, 1898. 

Originally Mr. Coster was a Whig, and 
cast his first presidential vote in 1836 for 
General Harrison, and his second ballot for 
the same man in 1840. He continued to 



\ ote the \N'hig ticket until the dissolution of 
the party, since which time he has been an 
earnest and steadfast Republican. He has 
voted for sixteen presidential candidates. 
A friend of education, he has served for 
years as a member of the school board, and 
assisted in the erection of four school 
houses in his district. Religiously Mr. 
Coster affiliates with the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. A resident of De Kalb county 
for a half century, has enabled him to form 
many acquaintances throughout the entire 
county, and wherever known is universally 
esteemed. 



MARCUS W. COLE, who is engaged 
in the banking business at Kingston, 
is one of De Kalb county's self-made men. 
He was born in Lockport, Niagara county, 
New York, February 8, 1836, and is the 
son of Washington and Harriet (Stiles) Cole, 
the former a native of Rhode Island, born 
in 1810, and the latter of New York, born 
Jul}' 16, 1812. They were married in New 
York, from which state they moved to 
Marshall, Clark count}', Illinois, in October, 
1836, where they remained until October, 
1 8 59, when they came to Kingston, De Kalb 
county, where he engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, in which he continued until his 
death July 21, 1889. His wife survived 
him some years, and died January 14, 1898. 
Their family number six children, five of 
whom grew to maturity, Marcus W. being 
the eldest of the family. Washington Cole 
was a sober, hard-working, honest man, 
who attended strictly to his own affairs. 
His wife was an extremely refined and cult- 
ured lady, and was liberally educated. Her 
superior mind governed the home and 
trained the voung. 




MARCUS W. COLE, 



THE BIOGRAPHIC AI, RECORD. 



The subject of this sketch was reared 
and educated in Marsliall, Clark county, 
Illinois, tirst attending the coniinon schools, 
and subsequently the Marshall Academy, 
from which he was graduated. During his 
school days, he assisted in one of the print- 
ing offices as compositor, and became quite 
proficient in that line. He ani\ed in 
Kingston, De Kalb coiintw April 4, 1851'), 
and in the summer following engaged in 
farming in the employment of his uTicle. 
Dr. J. W. .Stiles, wlm was a prominent lion- 
tist, real estate owner ami munev Icmlcr. 
During the iollnwing winters, he faitlifully 
and satisfactorily- taught three different 
terms in Boone county, and taught four 
winters in De Kalb county, a vocation in 
which he continued a portion of his time 
imtil I,S6.S. 

In iS5<S, Mr. Cole rented a farm, and 
worked it on his own account. In Septem- 
ber of the same year, he was joined in wed- 
lock to Miss Anna L. Little, a daughter of 
Henry and Amy Little, and to them i>ne 
child was horn, Alice C, .April 21, I ,sr) 1 , 
and now the wife of Judge W. L. Pond, of 
De Kalb, a sketch of whom appears else- 
where in this book. After their marriage 
they fixed up a house on a forty-acre lot, 
belonging to his wife, in which they lived 
and worked in connection with one hundred 
acres of rented land until 1868, when he 
purchased a farm of one hundred and eighty 
acres, upon which he put some improve- 
ments, and there resided until 1882, when 
he removed to Kingston, and formed a co- 
partnership with PhiUip Heckman. under 
the firm name of Heckman & Cole, and en- 
gaged in the hardware business. This part- 
nership continued a few years, when the 
firm agreed to exchange their business for a 

farm owned bv Dr. C. G. Cowell. During 
5 



this co-partnershi]T, the firm almost uncon- 
sciously drifted into the banking business, 
on a small scale at tirst, but which after- 
wards became of enlarged proportions. Mr. 
Heckman purchasing the interest of Mr. 
Cole in the farm, the latter, m 1888, en- 
tered the banking lousiness on a large scale, 
in due and legal form, at tirst using his pri- 
vate residence, but in 189^ erecting a suit- 
able brick slriictmc, with vault attached, 
and which building he now occupies. He 
does a good banking business for a town 
the size of Kingston, the business ax'eraging 
o\er two thousand dcjllars per day. 

Mr. Ci)le is one of the (nost popular 
men in his town and township, for five 
years he served as constable, and was 
township collector for eight years. In 1876 
he was appointed school treasurer, which 
office he still holds. Between 1885 and 
I S94 he held the office of town clerk, and 
in 1895 was elected supervisor of his 
township, and re-elected in 1897. He was 
appointed postmaster of Kingston, during 
Harrison's administration, and sjrved five 
years. He is a stanch Republican, and has 
been repeatedly appointed as delegate to 
the county conventions of his party, and 
also to the senatorial and congressional 
convention and to state conventions. In 
all the positions filled he has been true 
to his convictions. He has never deserted 
his party or its principles, and he has the 
entire confidence of the people. 

Mr. Cole is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, being initiated in the Genoa 
Lodge, No. 288, and was raised to the sub- 
lime degree of Master Mason, July 21, 
1866. He passed through the Royal Arch, 
in March, 1888, and was made a Sir Knight 
in the same year. He acted as secretary 
of the blue lodije from the time lie was 



92 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



raised until 1886. He was transferred to 
and received in the Kishwaukee Lodge, No. 
402, in the last named year. At three dif- 
ferent times he was sent as a representative 
to the grand lodge. He is a charter mem- 
ber of the Modern Woodmen of America, 
and originator of the Woodmen's annual 
picnic, which includes the Northern Illi- 
nois and Southern Wisconsin Picnic Asso- 
ciation. He is a charter member of the 
Knights of the Globe. 

Mr. Cole is a lo3'al citizen and extremely 
patriotic, and was only prevented from en- 
tering as a soldier in the great civil struggle 
by disability incurred while operating a 
threshing machine in November, 1862, 
while making preparations to enlist. The 
Grand Army of the Republic of Kingston 
made him an honorary member in 18S6, 
and in the work of the post he takes great 
pride, and liberally contributes to its work. 
Mr. and Mrs. Cole are members of the 
Free Will Baptist church, and active in 
every holy and righteous enterprise that 
may be in progress. He is a trustee of the 
church in Kingston, and has filled the office 
of Sunday school superintendent for more 
than fifteen years, and is yet serving cred- 
itably in the same position. For six years 
he has served as clerk of the Fox river 
quarterly meeting of the Free Will Baptist 
church. 

Mrs. Cole was born in Aurora, Erie 
county. New York, July 24, 1840. Her 
parents, Henry and Amy Little, removed to 
Illinois, in 1845, locating in Kingston town- 
ship, De Kalb county, where they reinained 
during the remainder of their lives. Mr. 
Little's death occurred August 18, 1858, 
while that of his wife took place Septem- 
ber 15, 1S91. Mrs. Cole is a refined and 
modest lady, and like her husband is quite 



popular. She is a member of the Woman's 
Relief Corps, of Kingston, of which she 
has the honor of being president. She 
has also been highly honored by being ap- 
pointed aid to Carrie Thomas Alexander, 
department president. She is also a mem- 
ber of the Eastern Star, and of the Emi- 
nent Ladies Garrison. Mr. and Mrs. Cole 
are very desirable companions, ever read\' 
to greet a friend or entertain a visitor. 



HERBERT W. FAY, one of the editors 
and proprietors of the De Kalb Re- 
view, is one of the best known men in De 
Kalb county, with a national reputation. 
He was born February 28, 1859, in Squaw 
Grove township, De Kalb county, Illinois, 
and is the son of Edwin H. and Ann Hay- 
wood Fay, natives of New York and Maine, 
and the grandson of Horace W. Fay, who 
came to De Kalb county, from New York, 
in 1838. For several years the grandfather 
served as county surveyor of De Kalb coun- 
ty, and as a patriot, he enlisted during the 
war for the Union, and served his country 
faithfully and well, giving up his life in its de- • 
fense, at \'icksburg, Mississippi, in the spring 
of 1863. Edwin Fay, the father, also set- 
tled in De I-ialb county, in 1838, and after- 
wards on a soldier's land warrant, obtained 
for services in the Sixteenth Kentucky In- 
fantry, with which he was connected for 
sixteen months during the Mexican war, 
obtained a tract of land. He is yet living 
in the village of Hinckley, but his good wife 
passed to her reward November 11, 1884. 

Herbert W. Fay, our subject, grew to 
manhood in his native township, and re- 
ceived his primary education in the com- 
mon schools. He later attended college at 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



9,^ 



Monmouth, Illinois, for three years, taught 
school one term, and then purchased a 
third interest in the Hinckley Review, and 
remained in company with Tomblin Broth- 
ers, the former proprietors, from May, 
1880, to 1882, when he became sole pro- 
prietor. In March, 1887, he removed to De 
Kalb where he purchased a half interest in 
the De Kalb Review, in company with D. 
W. Tyrrell. This is a flourishing weekly 
paper, and a stanch advocate of Republican 
principles, with a growing circulation of 
fifteen hundred copies. 

At Hinckley, Illinois, September 24, 
1884, Mr. Fay was united in marriage with 
Miss Nellie A. Sebree, also a native of 
Squaw Grove township, born December 21, 
1864, and the daughter of William M, and 
Rosetta Sebree. To this happy union there 
was born Earl Owen, October 24, 1SS5. 
William M. Sebree, the father of Mrs. Fay, 
is probably the oldest living settler in De 
Kalb county. He is a native of Indiana, 
born February 7, 1833, and is the son of 
John Sebree, a native of \'irf;iiiia, born .Au- 
gust 2, 1 80S. With his father, he came to 
De Kalb county, in 1S34. when but little 
more than a year old, and has here since 
spent his entire life. 

Horace W. Fay, the grandfather of our 
subject, \\-as a very prominent man in polit- 
ical affairs, and ser\ed as a tnember of the 
Illinois legislature, from 1848 to 18150. As 
a surveyor he laid out nearly all of De Kalb 
county. His grandson has received his 
mantle, for he, too, is a prominent young 
man of more than ordinary ability, and is 
the present county surveyor of De Kalb 
county. He served for three 3'ears as a 
member of the De Kalb board of educa- 
tion. Fraternally he is a member of the 
Sons of Veterans, Chicago Press Club, 



Knights of Pythias, Royal Arcanum, Knights 
of the Globe and Modern Woodmen of 
America. While residing in Hinckley he 
served as village clerk and was also town 
clerk of Squaw Grove township. He is a 
man of versatile talents and has a decided 
predilection for a literary career. He pos- 
sesses a tine discriminating taste for artistic 
work and is an accomplished draughtsman, 
while his pencil specimens are very fine. 

Once in a while one meets a man who 
is quietly pursuing a line of work in the 
achievement of a great purpose, and whose 
high aims and patient labors are ne\er sus- 
pected until suddenly revealed and the great 
service that is being rendered the world is 
recognized. Such a man is Herbert W. 
Faj', the subject of this sketch. Mr Fay 
is a collector of historical portraits as well 
as an able editor, and has now one of the 
largest private collections of portraits of 
notable people in the world. The collec- 
tion was begun by Mr. Fay in 1869, first bv 
collecting the faces of his friends in an or- 
dinary album. After that was lilleif he began 
another, and then one with the likenesses 
of distinguished persons. Book after book 
was filled until his albums were discarde* 
and large showcases were substituted. His 
collection now numbers fifty thousand pho- 
tographs of people in all spheres of life. He 
has photographs of nearly all the crowned 
heads of the nations of the globe. The 
collection includes ninety different sittings 
of Lincoln and twenty-five of Longfellow. 
He is the owner of the McNulta original 
negative of I^incoln and has photographs of 
kings, queens, presidents, ex-presidents, 
judges of the supreme court. United States 
senators, representatives, authors, scientists, 
inventors, artists, etc. This collection is 
the result of twenty- nine \ears of hard la- 



94 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



hor and is worth gjoinj,' hundreds of miles to 
see. 

A few years ago he conceived the idea 
to establish a portrait loan agency for the 
benefit of publishers of books, magazines 
and newspapers and has worked up a good 
business in this line, In this way he made 
what was once a fad a source of revenue. 
He was associate editor of the National 
Cyclopedia of American Biography, pub- 
lished in New York, and many of the por- 
traits used to illustrate this great work are 
from his collection. He furnished at one 
time five hundred pictures of prominent 
.people of this and other coimtries for the 
Americanized edition of the Encyclopedia 
Brittanica. His series of Lincoln portraits 
were used in McClure's Life of Lincoln. 
Notwithstanding his varied attainments Mr. 
Fav is a very modest man. 



MRS. SARAH CHAPMAN, widow of 
Julius Chapman, was born in New 
York state in 1823. She is the daughter of 
Henry and Jane Durham, her father being 
a native of New York, born in 1798. He 
removed to De Kalb count}-, Illinois, in 
1836, and the following year made a perma- 
nent location in Genoa. He became the 
owner of a vast amount of land on which he 
built extensivel}'. A man of marked ability 
and influence, he held many offices of im- 
portance in the early days. He was a justice 
of the peace for some years as well as super- 
visor of the township. For several years 
he engaged in mercantile business, keeping 
a general store, but failing health caused 
him to abandon it. He died in February, 
1855, at the age of fifty-six years. His 
wife, Jane Wager, died in November of the 
same year. 



Julius ChajMnan, the husband of Mrs. 
Sarah Chapman, was a native of Ohio, born 
in 1812, and who removed to Genon, De 
Kalb c )unty, in 1837. By trade he was a 
carpenter, at which he worked for several 
years after he came to De Ivalb county. 
He was an extensive dealer in real estate 
and at one time owned eleven hundred acres 
in De Kalb county. He was a live business 
man, knowing when to buy and when to 
sell. As he advanced in years he abandoned 
his trade, except to work on his own prop- 
erty, and turneil his attention to agricultural 
pursuits. He held the office of justice of the 
peace, supervisor and other official positions, 
and was looked to as a man of influence in 
his neighborhood. He married Miss Sarah 
Durham, in September, 1842, at Genoa. 
After nearly fifty years of a happy married 
life he was called to his reward in October, 
1 89 1. About 1867 Mrs. Chapman took to 
live with her a niece, Edna Harris, a daugh- 
ter of fier deceased sister Caroline, wife of 
L. C. Harris. This niece grew to be an 
accomplished young lady, knowing only the 
love of her foster mother, who loved her as 
her own. In September, 1 88 1 , she was united 
in marriage to Charles R. Burton, a young 
farmer, and to this happy union three chil- 
dren were born: Jessie F., Edgar C. and 
Sidney F. Mrs. Burton was born in Genoa 
December 31, 1861. Charles R. Burton 
was born in Elgin, Ivane county, Illinois, in 
March, 1855, and is the son of Francis and 
Mary (Pool) Burton, the former a native of 
Canada and the latter of England. In 
1840 they came from Canada to Illinois, 
locating in Kane county, on the farm where 
they now reside. Charles Burton was reared 
and educated in Kane county and came to 
De Kalb count}- in 1878, where, w-ith the 
exception of a few years, he has since con- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tinned to reside. His principal work is 
farming, but at times he has been engaged 
in butter and cheese making. He is a prac- 
tical and up-to-date farmer, and has lived 
on the home farm of Mrs. Chapman for the 
past seven years. 

The paternal grandfather of Mrs, Chap- 
man, Michael Durham, was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, and was as brave a 
soldier as ever put a gun to his shoulder. 
Mrs. Chapman is now the owner of three 
large farms, embracing five hundred acres 
of choice land. She is a woman of good 
business ability, and is well known and 
highly esteemed in the community which 
has so long been her home. 



JOHN D. JOHNSON, foreman of the 
shipping department of the EUwood 
Manufacturing Company, Pleasant street, 
De Kalb, Illinois, and who makes his home 
in Sycamore, is a native of Sweden, born in 
1856. He is the son of John and Christina 
Johnson, also natives of Sweden, and who 
still reside in their native land. Under the 
parental roof, our subject grew to manhood, 
received a fair education in the parochial 
schools, and at the age of sixteen years 
was confirmed as a member of the Lutheran 
church. With that laudable desire to better 
himself in life, and believing the New World 
afforded better opportunities than the Old, 
he determined to come to the United States. 
Accordingly, in 1S82, he left his native 
land, and after landing at New York, im- 
mediately came west, locating in Sycamore, 
where he has since continued to reside. 

In June, 1884, two years after his arri- 
val in Sycamore, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Anna Peterson, and they now 
have a family of five children as follows; 



Ella, Arthur, Herman, Ebbe and Pearl. 
One year after his arrival, he applied for 
naturalization papers, which he in due time 
secured, and has since been recognized as 
one true to his adopted country. He now 
resides with his family in a pleasant and 
comfortable home on Harvester street. 
Sycamore, the result of industry, honesty 
and economy. 

On his arrival at Sycamore, Mr. John- 
son at once entered the employ of the Ell- 
wood Manufacturing Company, and has 
now filled a period of sixteen years in its. 
service. His present position of foreman 
he has held for ten years. This goes to 
show his faithfulness and the high esteem 
in which he is held by his employers. While 
never serving an apprenticeship to any 
trade, he is a natural mechanic, and can 
turn his hand to almost any kind of busi- 
ness. He has entire charge of all the ship- 
ping of the large factory in which he is em- 
ployed, and which ships farm machinery all 
over the United States. Previous to his 
coming to this countr)', he served as a sol- 
dier for two years in his native land, and is 
even now ready to serve his adopted coun- 
try, if such services should ever be needed. 
He is a good Christian man, and a member 
in good standing in the Swedish Lutheran 
church in Sycamore, his wife being also a 
member of the same body. 



JOHN H. WOODBURY, a farmer re- 
siding on section 34, Shabbona town- 
ship, is well known throughout De Kalb 
and adjoining counties, not only as a good 
farmer, but as a first-class auctioneer, hav- 
ing cried many sales throughout northern 
Illinois. He is a native of Tompkins coun- 
ty, New \'oik, bum in the luwn of Ithaca,' 



(X, 



THi: BIOC.KAPHICAL RECORD. 



September 25, 1834, and is the son of 
Thomas Woodbury, a native of N'ennont, 
and a grandson of William Woodbury, also 
a native of Vermont, and a soldier in the 
war tif iSiJ. The latter remox'ed from 
\'erinont to Xew York with his family 
and became one of the piooneer settlers 
of Tompkins county, where he purchased 
a large tract of land, and there resided 
during the remainder of his lite. Thcjmas 
Wooithurv, his son and the father of our 
subject, there grew to manhood and mar- 
ried Mary Williams, a native of New- 
York, and a daughter of Charles Williams, 
also an earh" settler of Tompkins county. 
Forsome }ears after his marriage Thomas 
W(j(jdbury owned and operated a farm in 
Tompkins county, but in 1843 moved 
west, arriving in Chicago, June 10. and 
locating near the village, as it then was, 
he there remained about one year, then 
went to Wisconsin and made a permanent 
location in Rock county, near Milton Junc- 
tion, where he purchased a tract of land 
and engaged in farming, and there spent 
the remainder of his life, dying in March, 
1850. His wife survived him but a few 
months, dying in August the following year. 
They were the parents of five children, all 
of whom are yet living. 

Our subject was but nine years of age 
when the family came to Illinois. For 
some time he was engaged in driving the 
stage from Middletown to Janesville and 
Whitewater, Wisconsin, and later went to 
St. Charles, Illinois, and for two years drove 
the stage. Leaving the stage company at 
Ottawa, Illinois, he went to New Orleans 
and ran on the river a part of two years. 
Later he went to Havana, Cuba, from which 
place he returned and located m southern 
Illinois, an,d was engaged with the Strawns 



in handling cattle. In 1852 he came to De 
Kalb county and went to work on a farm by 
the month near Sandwich, and the follow- 
ing Near rented land, which he continued to 
do some three or four years. He later pur- 
chased one hundred and si.xty acres in Shab- 
bona township, the place being fairly well 
improved. F^rom time lu lime he purchased 
more land, some of which he sold off, but 
still owns a valual)le farm of three hundred 
and fort)' acres, and has been extensively 
engaged in general farming, stt)ck-raising 
and dairying. In 1858 he commenced auc- 
tioneering in LaSalle county, and followed 
that occupati(jn for a year or two, and then 
abandoned it for several years, but later re- 
sumed and has now for many years had the 
reputation of being (jue of the best auction- 
eers in northern Illinois. 

On the 29th of February, 1856, Mr. 
Woodbury was united in La Salle county, 
to Miss Laura A. Smith, a native of Herki- 
mer county. New York, and a daughter of 
Rensselaer Smith, who located in La Salle 
county, in 1845. This wife died November 
8, 1890, leaving four children. Prof. Will- 
iam W., married, is principal of the schools 
at Sandwich, Illinois. Elias married, and 
is a business man residing in Sutherland, 
Iowa. Alvin J. is married, and is now 
operating the home farm. Minnie M. is 
the wife of Professor Laild, a teacher of 
Warren, Illinois. 

Politically Mr. Woodbury has been a 
Republican since the organization of the 
party. He has served two or more terms 
as supervisor of his township, and for some 
years was a member of the school board. 
His extensive travels have brought him in 
contact with all classes of people, and while 
the time spent in the school room was com- 
paratively short, he is yet a well-informed 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



97 



man. The difference existing between the 
present time and that in which he was a 
stage driver, can hardly be conceived, but 
in the development of the country he has 
borne no inconsiderable part. 



LE\MS P. HIX, editor and proprietor of 
the Sycamore City Weekly, is a native 
of De Kalb county, born near the city of 
Sycamore, June 29, 1868. His father, 
Volaski Hix, was born April 25, 1837, in 
Clarendon, Orleans county, New York, and 
was the son of Ephraim and Laura W. (Will- 
iams) Hix. When eleven years of age he came 
with his parents to De Kalb county, his fa- 
ther purchasing one hundred and thirty 
acres of land in Kingston township, to which 
he subsequently added until his farm con- 
sisted of three hundred and thirty-seven 
acres. On that farm Volaski Hix grew to 
manhood and received a fair common- 
school education, supplemented by a few 
terms at Mt. Morris Seminary and Wheaton 
College. 

Volaski Hix assisted his father in the 
work of the farm until after he attained his 
majority. He was united in marriage No- 
vember 17, 1864, with Miss Louisa Parker, 
a native of Hammond, Spencer county, In- 
diana, born May 9, 1843, and is the daugh- 
ter of Henry X. and Mary A. (Stillwell) 
Parker, the former a native of Ontario 
county, New York, and the latter of Camp- 
bell county, Kentucky. They became the 
parents of five children — May, Lewis P. , 
Eva L., Floyd, Arthur and Nellie, the lat- 
ter dying in infancy. 

Previous to and after his marriage Vo- 
laski Hix engaged in agricultural pursuits in 
connection with teaching. For some years, 
however, he had cherished the desire to en- 



gage in newspaper work. In 1871 the de- 
sire was consummated and he established 
the De Kalb County Farmer, which he pub- 
lished monthly. In 1 872 the paper was suc- 
ceeded by the Sycamore City Weekly, which 
rapidly grew in public favor. At first it was 
independent in politics, but in 1876 it sup- 
ported the Republican national and state 
ticket, since which time the paper has been 
a strong supporter of the Republican prin- 
ciples. As a local paper it took front rank, 
giving special attention to the collection 
and publication of local news gathered 
throughout the county. Progressive in his 
ideas he gave support and encouragement to 
every enterprise calculated to build up his 
adopted county. He was especially inter- 
ested in agriculture and was for some years 
and until his death secretary of the De 
Kalb County Farmers' Picnic Association. 
He was unambitious politically and unpre- 
tending, giving his time to the building up 
of his paper and the advancement of the 
county. He died April 20, 1893. His 
widow is yet living in Sycamore. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, 
Ephraim Hix, was born December 9, 1803, 
while his great-grandfather, Ephraim Hix, 
Sr., was born November 6, 1768. The fam- 
ily were originally from England. Ephraim 
Hix, Jr., was a very successful farmer and 
succeeded in accumulating a large property. 
He died on the old farm in Kingston town- 
ship January 13, 1863. His wife survived 
him some years and died at her residence in 
Sycamore, June 14, 1875. 

Lewis P. Hix, the subject of this sketch, 
grew to manhood in Sycamore, and was 
educated in its public schools. At an early 
age he entered the office of his father's pa- 
per to learn the trade and also the business 
of newspaper piihlicalioii. llf made lapid 



9S 



THi: lUOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



progress iii ihf \arious branches connected 
with the printing and publishing of a news- 
paper, and in 1887 he became a partner 
with his father, under the firm name of Hi.K 
& Son, That iirm name has been retained 
since the death of the father. 

On the 30th of January 1896, Mr. Hi.\ 
was united in marriage with Miss Dora 
Hopkins, daughter of Edward and Vesta M. 
(Johnson) Hopkins. She was born in De 
Kalb county, of which her parents were 
early settlers. Her father was a brother of 
Hon. A. J. Hopkins, the present member 
of congress from the district of which De 
Kalb county is a part. 

Under the management of its present 
proprietor the Sycamore City Weekly main- 
tains the excellent reputation established b\- 
its luunder. It is a si.\-column quarto, neatl\- 
|)rinted and ably conducted. It is a strong 
Republican paper and a stanch advocate of 
the principles of that party. A job office is 
connected with the establishment. Fra- 
ternally, Mr. Hix is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias. 



DUANE J. CARNES, senior member 
of the law firm of Carnes & Dunton, 
Sycamore, Illinois, is numbered among the 
leading attorneys of northern Illinois. It 
is saitl that the poet is born, not made. 
The successful lawyer has to be both born 
and made — made l)y close application, 
earnest effort, perseverance and resolute 
purpose. The abilities with which nature 
has endowed him have to be strengthened 
and developed by use, and onl)- bj- merit- 
can the lawyer gain a pre-eminent position. 
Mr. C arnes was born at Pomlret. Wind- 
sor county, Vermont, May 27, 1848, and is 
the son of John and Mary Warren (Paine) 



Carnes, the loriner a native of Claremont, 
New Hampshire, born May 30. 1823. His 
father, ;d.-o named |ohn, was from the 
northern part of Ireland, and came to the 
United States about 1815, locating in Clare- 
mont, New Hampshire. He was a man of 
means and a weaver by trade, and started a 
woolen mill at that place of considerable 
magnitude for those days. He later located 
at Lowell, Massachusetts, where he was 
engaged in the same business. His wife 
was Persis Whitmore. They had two 
children, Charlotte and John. The former 
Hiarried James Parker, who subsecjuentl}' 
located in Mayfield township, De Kalb 
county, Illinois, where he engaged in farm- 
ing until 1875, when his death occurred. 
His widow survived him a few years. 

John Carnes, the father of our subject, 
was reared to farm life, and came to Syca- 
more in 1875, where he carried on farming 
in a small way near the city, and where he 
still resides. He brought with him to this 
country a considerable sum of money, which 
he invested in various ways, principally in 
loans. His wife was a native of Pom fret, 
Vermont, born July 4, 1825. Her father 
was Moses Paine, also a native of Pomfret, 
born in 1780, and the son of Asa Paine, 
who was likewise a native of Pomfret, Con- 
necticut. His wife was Keziah Chikls, a 
Pomfret, Connecticut, woman. Mar\ War- 
ren Carnes was a niece of Hooper Warren, 
who came west at an early day, and was a 
noted anti-slavery editor and temperance 
agitator. To John and Mary W. Carnes 
two children were l)orn, Duane J. and 
George D. The latter is a physician in 
South Haven, Michigan. 

The primar)' education uf our subject 
was in the district schools of l\jmfret. He 
then 'entered the State Normal School at 




DUANE J. CARNES. 



L BfC 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lOl 



Randolph, Vennoiit, from which he was 
graduated when twenty years old. He then 
came west and settled at Lincoln, Logan 
count}-, Illinois, where he engaged in teach- 
ing. He taught there from the fall of 1868 
until the spring of 1869, during which time 
he pursued his law studies, a part of the 
time in the law office of William Jones, of 
Lincoln. Returning to \'ermont, he fin- 
ished his second course in the Normal 
school at Randolph, and in the fall of 1873 
came to De Kalb county, Illinois, where he 
taught school for a time and continued his 
law studies in the office of Hon. Charles 
Rellum. 

In 1875, Mr. Carnes passed an exami- 
nation and was admitted to the bar, begin- 
ning his practice in partnership with judge 
Kellum, which partnership continued two 
years. Later he formed a partnership with 
Judge Lowell, which lasted about six years. 
When Mr. Lowell went on the bench, Mr. 
Carnes formed a partnership with Gilbert 
H. Denton, which continued till the fall of 
1889, when it was dissolved, and a partner- 
ship with George W. Dunton was formed, 
since which time the firm of Carnes & Dun- 
ton has been in existence. 

Mr. Carnes was married June i, 1880, 
to Helen A. McMollan, daughter of Archi- 
bald and Ellen (Black) McMollan, both 
natives of Scotland, and after marriage 
came to the United States and located in 
New York, later moving to Ogle county, 
Illinois. He died in 1876, and his wife in 
1885, at Oregon, Illinois. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Carnes one child was born, Hope, who 
yet resides with her parents. Religiously 
Mrs. Carnes is a member of the Presbyte- 
rian church. Fraternally he is a Mason, 
liavingtaken the Royal Arch degree. Politic- 
ally he is a Republican. His law practice 



has been such as to preclude his giving 
much time to politics or to aspire to any 
office. For several years he has been local 
attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad, 
and in special cases has been attorney for 
other roads. 

Mr. Carnes is a ripe jurist and an able 
advocate. After his admission to the bar 
he rose rapidly to the front in his profes- 
sion, and with his partners, has been asso- 
ciafed in nearly all the important cases 
since he began his practice that ha\e come 
before the De Kalb county bar. He is 
found in the trial of most of the criminal 
cases in the county, either in prosecution or 
defense. He makes such cases a study, and 
finds in them problems in human nature, 
where his analytical mind has full play and 
serves him well. His special forte as a law- 
yer is as an advocate, and he rarely fails to 
bring the minds of the jury to his cause. 
When before the court or jury, he always 
commands the closest attention. He pos- 
sesses a fund of humor withal, and his 
quaint sayings, apt illustrations and similies 
are not the least attractive feature of his 
legal oratory. In his profession he has 
been a success, and holds the esteem, not 
only of the bench and bar, but of the peo- 
ple. He is possessed of fine instincts, char- 
itable and kind to the deserving, of pleasant 
manners, and an attractive conversation- 
alist. 



EDWIN JESSEN, foreman of the paint- 
ing and dipping department in the 
Ellwood Manufacturing Company, Pleasant 
Street, De Kalb county, Illinois, resides ui 
a pleasant and commodious home which he 
erected for himself in the city of Sycamore, 
where he also owns other valuable lots. He 



I ()-' 



Tin: l^.lOGRAPHICAL KECOKD. 



is a native of De Kalb, born June 3, 
1864, and is the son of Jess and Helen 
Jessen, who immigrated from Denmark to 
this coimtry in 1865, locatini; in De Kalb, 
[liinois, where they resided a few \ears, 
then moved to Michigan, where the father 
died. His wife survived him a few years, 
dying in Sycamore, June 13, 1S93. 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
and educated principally in De Ivalb, Illinois. 
At the age of fifteen, he began to work for 
the Ellwoods, in the paint shop at Syca- 
more, and has since continued the work for 
the same firm for eighteen years, several 
years of which time he has been foreman of 
the paint shop. On the 25th of January, 
1893, lie married Miss Emma Ross, who 
was born in 1870, in Mayfield township, and 
wh(j is a daughter of Peter Ross, an early 
settler of De Kalb county. By this union 
there is one child, Archie Wihiier. 

Faithfulness has been one of the charac- 
teristics of our subj'ict, and by doing well 
whatever work was intrusted to him, he won 
not only the esteem of his employers, but 
secured the cuntidence of his fellow citizens, 
who elected hiiri lu the office of alderman of 
Sycamore, in which position he served two 
years. Fraternally he is a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America, and in social 
life he is greatly esteemed, ha\ ing the man- 
ners of a true gentleman. 



ISRAEL R. WHITEMAN, deceased, was 
1 for some years one of the leading farmers 
in DeKalb township. He was born in Del- 
aware county, Ohio, in 1832, and was the 
son of John and Sarah Whiteman, also na- 
tives of Ohio, who remu\ed to this county 
in 1846. .\lter their arrival, John White- 
man, the father, purchased one hundred and 



sixty acres of land, which after a time he 
sold to good advantage, buying another 
tract west of the city, near where stands 
the present new normal school building. 
This, too, was put on ths market in due 
time, and realized to its owner a large prof- 
it. In 1872 he purchased another farm on 
which he remained during the rest of his life, 
dying in December, 1876, at the age of 
seventy-four years. His wife survives him, 
and has now reached the advanced age of 
ninety-nine years. 

Israel R. \\'hiteman was only si.x years 
of age when he accompanied his parents to 
De Kalb county. Here he spent the remain- 
der of his life, with the exception of ten 
years in Chicago, as foreman for Mr. Beers. 
Even at that time, and notwithstanding his 
father's removal to Michigan, he yet claimed 
De Kalb as his home. On the 17th of June, 
1858, he married Miss Ellen A. Price, born 
near Cooperstown, New York, July 28, 1 830, 
and the daughter of David and Polly Price, 
who removed from New York to St. Charles, 
Illinois, in 1844. David Price was a man 
of good repute among his fellows, and for 
fifty years was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, during which time he 
held the office of class leader and other of- 
ficial positions. For four years he was 
keeper of the countj-house at De Kalb. dis- 
charging the duties of the position in a most 
faithful manner. In early lite he was known 
as Captain Price, having been captain of 
militia in his native state. His interesting 
family consisted of Lorenzo, Marie, Miner- 
va, Juliette and Ellen. By the union of 
Mr. Whiteman and Ellen Price, two children 
were born, Frances M., born October 26, 
1856, died April 30, 1864, and Minnie Grace, 
born September 16, 1866, who married 
('harles Graham and is a resident of Chicago, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lo; 



While Mr. Whiteman was by occupation 
a fanner, he was also a natural mechanic, 
and at one time invented a machine for 
making barb-wire fence. He was a leading 
spirit in the organization of the Whiteman 
Manufacturing Company, of Marsailles, La- 
Salle county, Illinois, with a capital of thirty 
thousand dollars, which organization was 
later dissolved, on account of the death of 
Mr. \\'hiteman. His death was immedi- 
ately caused by being run over by a vehicle 
in Chicago, resulting in complications which 
finally caused his death, August 27, 1888, 
at the age of fifty-five years. Fraternally 
he was a member of the Masons, and was 
always considered a trustworthy man, in the 
various relations of life, one held in the 
highest esteem by all who knew him. 



SAMUEL M. SANDERSON, who resides 
on section 39, Milan township, is the 
owner of one hundred and sixty acres of well 
improved land, which is kept under the high- 
est state of cultivation. He was born in 
La Salle county, Illinois, July 31, 1853, 
and is the son of Sander H. Sanderson, a 
native of Norway, who came to the United 
States with his father, Henry Sanderson, 
who located in La Salle county, Illinois, be- 
ing among the first of the Norwegian nation- 
ality to locate in that county. 

Samuel H. Sanderson was the oldest of a 
family of six children, all of whom had to 
walk the greater part of the way from Chi- 
cago to La Salle county. In that county 
he married Ann Moland, a native of Nor- 
way, who came to this country in childhood. 
The occupation which Mr. Sanderson en- 
gaged in La Salle county was that of a farm- 
er, and on his removal to De Kalb county, 
in 1863, he continued that vocation, pur- 



chasing eighty acres of unimproved land, to 
which he later added another eighty acres, 
giving him a fine farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres of excellent prairie land. He 
became quite a prominent man in Milan 
township, and served some ten years as jus- 
tice of the peace, and also held other official 
positions. He was very helpful to the Nor- 
wegians settling in his neighborhood and 
did them many a good turn. He died in 
Milan township in 1883, while his wife pre- 
ceded him only about one week. 

Samuel M. Sanderson was second in order 
of birth in the family f)f five sons and four 
daughters, who grew to mature years, all of 
whom are yet living and are married; one, 
Ole, died in infancy. He was reared in 
De Ivalb county, and educated in the com- 
mon schools, attending during the winter 
months, and assisting in the farm work at 
other seasons of the years. He remained 
with his father until after he reached his 
majority, and later forined a partnership 
with him and engaged in the general mer- 
cantile business at Lee for five years, during 
which time he received a good business 
training. 

In La Salle county, Illinois, September 
10, 1874, Dr. Sanderson was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Betsey K. Halverson, a na- 
tive of La Salle county, and a daughter of 
Knute Halverson, a native of Norway and 
likewise one of the early Norwegians locat- 
ing in La Salle county. Immediately after 
his marriage, Mr. Sanderson rented a farm 
and later purchased eighty acres where he 
now resides, and on which he added eighty 
acres adjoining, making him a fine farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres. The place 
was partially improved when he purchased, 
but he has remodeled the house and erecttil 
various outbuildings, and is now one of the 



I04 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



most successful farmers in the township. 
He is also a stockholder, secretary and man- 
ager of the Lee Creamery Association, an 
enterprise which has been (|iiite successful. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson twelve chil- 
<!ren have been born, si.\ of whom died 
in infancy and early childhood. The living 
are Harvey C. , Sander E., Eva A., Kinnie 
O., Lester E. and Vira M. Politically Mr. 
Sanderson is a Republican, and has given 
his support to that party since 1876. He 
has taken quite an active part in local poli- 
tics, and was elected and served one term 
as township collector, and in 1893 v\ as 
elected supervisor of his township, and re- 
elected in 1898, and is now serving his 
second term. He has made a very faithful 
and efficient oflicer, rendering complete sat- 
isfaction to his constituents. His influence 
has always been in favor of good schools, 
and to that end he has given much of his 
time as a member of the school board, and 
clerk of his school district. He and his 
wife are earnest and consistent members of 
the Lutheran church. His life has been an 
active one, and his friends are many, not 
only in Milan township, but throughout De- 
Kalb and Lee counties. 



PETER VAN ALLEN QLTLHOT, of 
Shabbona, Illinois, is a highly esteemed 
citizen of the county, who dates his resi- 
flence here since June 11, 1845. He is a 
native of Cayuga county. New York, born 
in the town of Victory, January 21, 1822. 
On his father's side he is of French ancestry, 
his great-grandfather, Dr. Quilhot, being a 
native of France and a surgeon in the 
French Navy. He was taken prisoner by 
the British, during the French and English 
war of 1765, and was later paroled in New 



York, and settled in Columbia county. He 
married, in New York, a Miss Vanderpool, a 
native of Holland, a member of one of the 
pioneer families of New York, from that 
county. His son, James Ouilhot, was born 
in Columbia county. Henry Ouilhot, the 
son of James Quilhot, was the father of our 
subject. He was born in the town of 
Kinderhook, Columbia county. New York, 
in 1789. He grew to manhood in his native 
county and served in the war of 181 2. In 
1817 he moved to Cayuga, being one of its 
first settlers. Before moving to that county, 
he was married, in Kinderhook, to Miss 
Hannah Van .Allen, also a native of that 
place, but of Holland parentage, the \'an 
Aliens beingamong the pioneers of Columbia 
county. On his removal to Cayuga county 
he opened up a farm and there spent the 
last years of his life, dying September 11, 
182S, when about forty years of age. He 
was a very vigorous and active man, and took 
pride in doing more work than any other 
one man could do. In one day he cradled 
seven acres of rye, which brought on a con- 
gestive chill, the cause of his death. His 
wife survived him and passed away in Shab- 
bona township, De Kalb county, May 20, 
1867. 

The subject of this sketch is the seventh 
in the family of ten children born to his 
parents, all of whom grew to mature years. 
James, born in Kinderhook, in 1S09, married 
in Columbus, Ohio, where he located and 
where his wife died. He was a soldier in 
the United States Army, was taken sick, 
and died in the hospital at Governor's isl- 
and, about 1848. Myndert V., also born in 
Kinderhook, in 181 i, married in New York, 
came to Kalb county, in 1853, and here 
died. Catherine, born in 1813, married 
Daniel Husk, who has since died. She now 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RI^.COKD. 



105 



resides in Buffalo, New Yorl\. Elizabeth, 
born in 181 5, married Peter Miller, and 
they now reside in the town of Shabbona. 
Maria married Nicholas I. Kipple, of Ren- 
ssellaer county. New York. They came 
west in 1849, settled in De Kalb county, 
where her death occurred. Margaret 
married Henry Kirkpatrick, and settled in 
Kansas; she died May 12, 1897, in Shabbona. 
Peter V. is the subject of this review. Jane 
married Hiram P Allen, who was murdered 
in Sandwich, Illinois, February 15, 18S0. 
Mrs. Allen now resides in Chicago. Cornel- 
ius v., who came to De Kalb county in 
1849, now resides in Shabbona, living a 
retired life. Caroline married William 
Marks. Jr., and settled in De Kalb county in 
1845, ^nd both are now deceased. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in Cayuga county. New York, and re- 
ceived his education in the common schools, 
supplemented by an attendance at Red 
Creek Academy. He remained on the farm 
for some years, after attaining his majority, 
then commenced to learn the painter's 
trade. After the first year he received 
journeyman's wages, having become an ex- 
pert painter. That trade he followed until 
he came west in 1845. Leaving home he 
came by way of Erie canal to Buffalo, and 
thence by the lakes to Chicago, being ac- 
companied by his sister and brother-in-law. 
They came direct to De Kalb county and 
located in Shabbona township, and the fol- 
lowing year our subject entered a tract of 
government land, comprising one hundred 
and twenty acres. When he went to get 
his first deed recorded, in 1846, he rode an 
Indian pony across the prairie to Sycamore, 
and as the old frame court house had not 
been inclosed by a fence he rode right up 
to the door of the Siinie. In that year he 



sowed twelve acres of wheat on the farm of 
a Mr. Miller. In 1847 he returned to Cay- 
uga county. New York, and worked at his 
trade for several months. In October, 1848, 
he again came to De Kalb county, and in 
the spring of 1849 built a small frame 
house, for which he obtained the siding and 
finished lumber in Chicago. He at once 
commenced to improve the place, and in 
1854 [Mirchased eighty acres adjoining, on 
which he later moved. In 1863 he built a 
large and substantial residence, erected a 
barn and other outbuildings, thus putting 
the place in a homelike condition. He con- 
tinued to cultivate the farm until 1884, 
when he rented the place, and four years 
later removed to the village of Shabbona, 
where he has since lived a retired life. In ad- 
dition to his De Kalb county farm, he owns 
two hundred acres in Morris county, Kan- 
sas. Mr. Ouilhot was married in Soinonauk, 
De Kalb county, .\ugust 8, 1850, to Miss 
Frances M. Bacon, a native of Onondago 
county, New "^'ork, where she was reared 
and educated, and a daughter of Lyman 
Bacon, one of the early settlers of De Kalb 
county and one of the first members of the 
county board of supervisors. He waff a 
native of New York, and there married, 
coming from Onondago county to De Kalb 
county, Illinois, in 1846. By this union 
there are si.x children. John J. married, in 
1879, Fannie Burchard, and they now re- 
side on the old home farm. Henry Bacon 
is a farmer residing in Morris county, Kan- 
sas; he married Alice Prescott, of Kansas, 
in February, 1876. Helen E. is now the 
wife of Richard K. Anderson, and they now 
reside in Fort Scott, Kansas. Josephine 
married John A. Swett, and they reside in 
Harvey, Illinois, where he is emploj-ed as 
station agent. Franklin \'. married Miss 



io6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Ida Pattfin, and they reside in Chicago, 
where he is engaged in the grocer}' bnsi- 
ness. Lila Sarah married Henry Loucks, 
and thev reside in Victor township, De 
Kalb county, where he is engaged in agri- 
c-.ultnral pursuits. 

PoliticalK Mr. (hiiihot is a stanch Re- 
publican, having voted for every presiden- 
tial nominee of the party from Fremont to 
McKinley. His first presidential ballot, 
however, was cast for fames K. Polk. He 
has been honored by his fellow citizens 
with various local offices, being elected 
highway commissioner on the organization 
of his townshi]). and later served as assessor 
at different times. In 1862, he was first 
elected as a member of the board of cocmty 
supervisors, and at different times has 
served seven terms. In 1883, he was chair- 
man of important committees and has 
served on almost all the important commit- 
tees of the board. While he did not enter 
the ser\ice during the Civil war, he showed 
his patriotism and interest in the cause by 
contributing to the support of the families 
of volunteers and in raising the bounties 
required to fill the quota of his township. 
He gave fully twenty per cent, of the 
amount contributed by the entire township 
of the first cash subscription and also con- 
tributed liberally for other purposes. For 
two years and a half of the war he gave 
much of his time in affording relief to sol- 
diers' families of the volunteers. He per- 
formed \arious duties pertaining to the en- 
listment of recruits without remimeration. 

Mrs. Ouilhot is a member of the Con- 
gregational church, and while not a mem- 
ber himself, Mr. Ouilhot attends the church 
with his wife and gives of his means to 
its support. Fraternally he is a member of 
Shabbona Lodge, No. 374, A. F. & A. M., 



having united \vith the order in 1863. For 
twenty-five consecutive years he has served 
as treasurer of the lodge. Mr. Ouilhot 
has been a resident of Illinois for more than 
half a century. When he came there were 
but fifteen families in Shabbona township, 
and old Shabbona was his neighbor. The 
Indians resided in the neighborhood until 
the fall of 1849, when they went to a reser- 
vation in Kansas. Mr. Ouilhot is well 
known thrt)Ughout De Kalb county, and is 
held in the highest esteem by all. 



T-'HOMAS J. WINDERS, editor and pro- 
i prietor of the Malta Record and Cres- 
ton Observer, makes his home in the for- 
mer place, and is recognized as one who 
has the best interests of his adopted county 
at heart, always ready to advocate any 
measure that will advance the best interests 
of the community. He was born in Neva- 
daville, Colorado, January 20, 1863, and is 
the son of John X. and Susan (Powell) 
Winders, both nati\es of Washington coun- 
ty, Maryland, born about 1831. The fa- 
ther was a civil engineer by profession, and 
removed from his southern home to Polo, 
Illinois, in 1S55, where he engaged in the 
grain business for several years. He sub- 
sequently removed to St. Joseph, Missouri, 
with his family, and there remained about 
two years, going from thence to Nevada- 
ville, Colorado, where he engaged in min- 
ing. 

The subject nf this sketch remained 
under the parental roof until in his sev- 
enth year, when he came to Ogle county, 
and after atten ling the common schools for 
a time, entered the normal school at \'al- 
paraiso, Indiana. He also took a course in 
Aument's Business College at Sterling. Illi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



107 



nois, concluding his studies at Ncjrthern 
Illinois College, Fulton, Illinois. 

On leaving school, Mr. Winders removed 
to Iowa where he engaged in the printing 
business, remaining there until 1887, when 
he removed to Chica{;o, in which citv he 
engaged in like business until 1894. In 
the spring of 1894 he returned to Polo, 
Ogle county, Illinois, and in the fall of the 
same year purchased a half interest in the 
Malta Record and Creston Observer, be- 
coming associated with L. L. O'Kane. In 
February, 1895, he purchased the interest 
of Mr. O'Kane and became sole proprietor 
of the papers. At that time the plant was 
at Creston, but in the fall of 1895 he re- 
moved it to Malta. In March, 1897, he 
formed a partnership with F. E. Campbell, 
which continued one year, when he re-pur- 
chased and again became sole proprietor. 

On the 1 5th of July, 1896, Mr. Winders 
was united in marriage with Mrs, Alice A. 
Chapell, widow of the late Clarence E. 
Chapell. He and his wife are members of 
the Congregational church, uniting in 1896 
under the pastorate of Rev. S. S. Unger. 
They are both active workers in the church 
and in the Young People's Society of Chris- 
tian Endeavor. Mr. Winders is now serv- 
ing as trustee and usher in the church. Po- 
litically he is a Republican and has been an 
active worker in the interest of the party, 
advocating its principles with voice and pen, 
and often serving as delegate t(j the various 
conventions including congressional and 
state. 

Mr. Winders is a popular man and his 
companionship is sought by various socie- 
ties. He is a member of the Modern W'ood- 
men of America, at Malta, of which he was 
clerk in 1897. He is a charter member of 
the M\stic Workers of the World, and has 



been secretary of the order since its organi- 
zation, January 13, 1S96. He is a charter 
member of the Knights of Pythias at Malta, 
of which he has been keeper of the records 
and seals since March 25, 1896. He is also 
a charter member of the Knights of the 
Globe at Malta, and at the date of its or- 
ganisation he was elected judge and one of 
the board of managers, and is now past su- 
preme judge. He is a member of the En- 
dowment Rank of the Insurance order of 
the Knights of Pythias. In each of these 
organizations he has taken an active inter- 
est and is an inlluential member. 



WILLIAM A. PUEHL, a well-known 
business man of Sycamore, Illinois, 
was born in Buffalo, New York, June 5, 
1857, and is the son of Louis A. and Sophia 
(I^udwig) Buehl, both of whom are natives 
of Germany. The father was born near 
Heidelberg, January 13, 1827. At the age 
of seventeen he came to America, leaving 
in time to escape forced ser\ice in the 
army. For a time he made his home in 
New York City, where he married and 
where several of his children were born. 
He was for some years captain of one of 
the crews of engines connected with the 
fire department, under the old /v^'/wc, 
where jealousies were rife and fights fre- 
quent between rival crews at fires. On one 
of the occasions, he was struck on the back 
of his head with a speaking trumpet, and 
was unable to discharge his duties while 
that fire continued. Frequently the rival 
crews would turn the stream upon each 
other instead of upon the flames. About 
1854, he removed to Buffalo, and some 
time later he became interested in the man- 
ufacture of shoes, at one time ha\ing the 



io8 



THI-: BIOCKAPHICAL KIXOKI). 



largest shoe store in Buffalo. He was a 
a great traveler and traversed the greater 
part of Europe and America. During the 
Civil war, he enlisted in the United States 
service, but the war closed before he reached 
the front. .^bout 1872 he retired from 
active business, and took life easy until his 
death, April i, 1887. His wife was born 
May 10, 1827, in Hohenberg, Kcenigfalz, 
Bavaria, Germany, and came to America 
with her parents, the voyage lasting forty- 
seven days. To Lewis A. and Sophia 
Buehl six sons and one daughter were 
born, the latter dying at the age of fifteen 
years. The five brothers of our subject yet 
reside in I'>uffalo, where they are engaged 
in business. 

The early life of '-.nv subject was spent 
in liis n.itive cit\-, where he attended school 
No. 13, Oak street, Buffalo, until the age 
of fourteen. Like many others, he regrets 
quitting so soon, but he was ambitious to 
get to earning his cjwn living, He was ap- 
prenticed to a company of manufacturing jew- 
elers, with whom he worked four years, then 
learned watch-making, at which he worked 
until coming west in 1878. He located first 
at .Applet'in. Wisconsin, where he engaged in 
manufacturing jewelry and doing repair 
work. After remaining there some five or 
si.\ years, he moved to Rockford, Illinois, 
where he engaged in the same business for 
about fifteen months. He then sold out 
and for eight months traveled in California 
for the benefit of his son's health. 

.Mr. Buehl was married in Loomis, Mich- 
igan, July 27, 1879, to Miss Annie Ostran- 
der, born in Howard township, province of 
Ontario, Canada, and a daughter of James 
and Sarah (Gosnell) Ostrander. By this 
union four children have been born — Buelah, 
Russell, Willie and Farris. Of these Willie 



is now deceased. The family are attend- 
ants of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Fraternally Mr. Buehl is a Mason, and a 
member of the Knights of Pythias, Modern 
Woodmen of America and National Union. 
On returning to Illinois, Mr. Buehl came 
to Sycamore, purchased a jewelry store, and 
continued in business until the spring of 
1898, when he sold his store in order to 
give his entire time and attention to the 
manufacture and introduction of the insu- 
lating apparatus, invented bj- his friend, G. 
G. Lewis, with whom he is in partnership 
in the patent. Of these patents there are 
four in number. The first was constructed 
on the plan to pump the insulating liquid up 
to the wires. This worked well on low 
wires, but was not satisfactory on wires forty 
or fifty feet from the ground. Another ar- 
rangement on the same principle was pat- 
ented, but that likewise was found defec- 
tive. A third was constructed, with a bo.\ 
to slide along the wires, which principle was 
found to be the correct one, and a fourth 
machine was constructed and patented, 
which has o\ercome all objections and 
meets all contingencies and conditions. 
After coating the wires of a plant in a neigh- 
boring town, the electric company noticed a 
saving of fuel on the first day. The appli- 
ance not onh' saves leakage of electricity 
from the wires, but preserves the insulation 
for manyyears. One commendable feature 
of the process is its cheapness. Having 
perfected the idea, Buehl & Lewis aregiving 
their attention to introducing it to the pub- 
lic. 



CAPTAIN ALMON FORD PARKE re- 
sides upon a fine farm in sections 7, 8 
and 9, Sycamore township. He was bom 




CAPT. A. F. PARKE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL R!:C()RI). 



in the town of Evans, Erie county, New 
York, January 25, 1838, and is the son of 
Larinon Z. and Martha \\'. (Fenton) Parke, 
the former born in 1800, and the latter in 
1799. The paternal grandfather, Reuben 
Parke, was born June 10, 1772, and died in 
Indiana, when about ninety years old. He 
married Elizabeth R. Ford, a daughter of 
Almond I'ord, a captain in the war of 1812, 
for whom our subject was named. She 
was born in Connecticut and buried in I)e 
Kalb, and was buried on her ninety-tifth 
birthday. Larmon Z. Parke was a car- 
penter and joiner and followed that trade 
until compelled to give it up, when he 
learned the trade of a mason; was a tine 
mason and followed that until he received a 
stroke of paralysis, during the war. He 
resided on a small farm near De Kalb for 
many years. His death occurred Septem- 
ber 14, 1885, in DeKalb where he was then 
residing. 

The subject of this sketch attended the 
district schools in his native county and 
state, until the age of eighteen years, in 
the meantime assisting in the farm work 
during the summer months. The famih" 
resided about eighteen miles from Buffalo, 
to which city he hauled the farm produce. 
In 1856 he accompanied his parents west, 
the fannl\- locating in De Kalb township. 
He attended the De Kail) High School, and 
also one term at Mt. Morris Seminarv, 
which completed his school life. He then 
taught school for one term. His father fol- 
lowing the trade of a mason, all the sons 
were required to learn the same trade, and 
were good rnasons, before attaining their 
majority. Our subject learned not only the 
brick and stone mason trade, but also plas- 
tering. \\'hen twenty years old, he hired 
his time from his father, and followed ma- 



sonry on his own account until the second 
year of the Civil war, doing his last work 
in the fall of 1862, t)n a school-house in De 
Kalb. 

Believing that it was his dutj to assist 
his country, Mr. Parke assisted in raising a 
company, and was mustered into the service 
at Dixon, Illinois, September J, 1862, as 
second lieutenant of Compaii} K, One 
Hundred and b'iftli Illinois X'okmleer In- 
fantry. \\'ith his regiment he was sent to 
Camp Douglass, Chicago, from which place 
it was sent to Louissille, Frankfort and 
Bowling Green, Kentucky, thence to Nash- 
ville, and wintered at South Tunnel, near 
the latter city. W^hile in camp at South 
Tunnel, Lieutenant Parke was taken sick 
with typhoid fever, from which he suf- 
fered two months. When con\alescent, 
he was assigned to duty with the pioneer 
corps and sent to Murphysborough. \\'ithin 
three months after being mustered into 
the service, our subject was promoted first 
lieutenant, arid while on duty with the 
pioneer corps, the captain of his company 
resigned, when he was commissioned cap- 
tain, and ordered back to take command of 
his company. 

Soon after receiving his commission as 
captain, our subject joined his company at 
Nashville, and reported for dut\-. From 
Nashville, with his regiinent, he went to 
the Wauhatchie X'alley, and in the spring 
of 1864 entered on the Atlanta Campaign. 
He was in every battle during that cam- 
paign, but never was wounded, although 
shot through the coat, and his sca!)bard 
once struck with a minie ball. .After the 
.Atlanta campaign, the Twentieth .Army 
Corps, of which the One Hundred and Fifth 
Illinois Regiment formed a part, was given 
rist at Atlanta. The father of Captani 



I 12 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Parke having received a stroke of paralysis, 
the Captain secured a leave of absence and 
returned home for seven days. On return- 
ing; to his regiment, he found that it had 
gone on the march to the sea. He got as 
far as Nashville, then went to Chattanooga, 
but could not get through. He was then 
assigned to the command of a company at 
Nashville, and for a time was under 
General Thomas, and later under General 
Harrison. After Sherman reached the sea. 
Captain Farke was relieved from dutv in 
Tennessee, where he had been serving on 
the military commission, trying criminal 
cases. When the commission was dissolved, 
he received an order to report to his com- 
mand at Raleigh, North Carolina. While 
en route upon the ocean, he learned of 
Lincoln's assassination at Morehead City, 
passing boats having their flags at half mast. 
From Raleigh his regiment marched through 
Virginia on its way to Washington, and our 
subject had a glimpse of Libby Prison, and 
saw many of the battlefields of the Eastern 
Army. After the Grand Review, in which 
it participated, his regiment was ordered to 
Chicago where it was mustered out of serv- 
ice June 7, 1865. 

On being mustered out. Captain Parke 
returned home and resumed his trade in 
De Kalb, and later in partnership with a 
brother, who owned one hundred and sixty 
acres, he purchased eighty acres of land 
on Section n, Afton township, nine miles 
south of De Kalb. He continued at his 
trade, however, until about 1869, when, 
with his brother, he bought another farm 
in Afton township, on sections i and 12, 
and in connection with his trade followed 
farming until 1870, when the partnership 
with his brother was dissolved, and he con- 
tinued in possession of the farm. In 1871 



he mo\ed to the farm in Afton township, 
where he resided until February, 1873, 
when he came to his present farm, at that 
time consisting of two hundred and forty 
acres. In 1884 he built a residence forty 
by forty-four feet, and twenty-six feet in 
height. The building is a brick with hard- 
wood finish, and a large tank in the garret 
supplied water for the entire house. On 
the place is a model barn, thirty-four by 
one hundred and two feet. Since taking 
possession of the farm. Captain Parke has 
put down about three miles of tilings, set 
out orchard trees which gives the place a 
beautiful appearance. 

Captain Parke was married September 
r, 1870, to Miss Ruth Hall, who was born 
in a log house which is still standing, on a 
farm just north of our subject, in which the 
county court was once held. At the time 
it was built it was the largest and finest 
house in the county. She is a daughter of 
Ephraim Hall, born in Wallingsford, Con- 
necticut, March 15, 1S08, and who came to 
De Kalb county in the fall of 1836. In his 
native state, he engaged in the manufacture 
of Britania ware. His death occurred in 
De Kalb county, within one week of the age 
of eighty-eight years. To our subject and 
wife seven children have been born, six of 
whom are yet living. Martha W. died at 
an early age. Nelson R. is proprietor of a 
feed stable in Helvidere, Illinois. Henry 
H. is assistant curator of the Museum at 
the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He 
attended a school of embriology, at Wood's 
Hall, Massachusetts, in the summer of 
1898. Mary and Mila are graduates of the 
Sycamore High School, the latter being a 
teacher in the home district. Ruth and 
Eleanor G. are attending the high school in 
Sycamore. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAI. RECORD. 



1 1 



In politics Captain Parke is a Democrat. 
Fraternally he was formerly a Mason, hold- 
ing membership with the blue lodge and 
chapter. For about twenty years he has 
served as a school director, and since living 
in his present district has been clerk of the 
school board. He is one of the best farm- 
ers in De Kalb county, his farm showing 
evidence of thrift at every hand. 



DR. C. SCHUYLER, dentist, with oi¥ice 
on the corner of Third and Main 
streets, De Kalb, Illinois, is one of the lead- 
ing dental practitioners of the county, none 
sustaining a higher reputation for skill and 
reliability. While he is a young man in 
years and practice, he is in the front of his 
profession, being a thoroughly expert den- 
tist, both in the mechanical and surgical 
branches of the art. He is a graduate of 
the Chicago College of Dental Surgery, and 
has been established in De Kalb, Illinois, 
since his graduation from that institution in 
1891. From the time that he tirst opened 
his office he ha.s been steadily increasing his 
hold on popular favor and patronage. His 
rooms are neat, well appointed, and fur- 
nished with approN'ed dental appliances, 
enabling him to do work in the very best 
form of art. All operations comprehended 
in modern dentistrj' are performed in a 
superior manner, and satisfaction is guar- 
anteed in every instance. 

Dr. Schuyler was born in Nunica, Mich- 
igan, February 23, 1868, and is the son of 
James H. and Mary (Sixbury) Schuyler, 
who were residents of Michigan at the time 
of the Doctor's birth. There his mother's 
death occurred, but the father subsequently 
removed to Sycamore, Illinois, where the 
Doctor received his early training and fitted 



himself for college. On the second of Sep- 
tember, 1896, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Harriet D. Goodrich, the accom- 
plished daughter of Erastus and Phebe 
Goodrich. She is a native of New York, 
born in 1871, and came with her parents to 
DeKalb county in 1879. Here she grew 
to womanhood, and received her educa- 
tion. 

James H. Schuyler, the father of our 
subject, was united in marriage, at Syca- 
more, Illinois, May 9, 1S66, with Miss Mary 
E. Sixbury, and they shortly afterwards 
removed to Nunica, Michigan, where two 
sons were born to them, Colfax, our sub- 
ject, and James C. Mrs. Mary E. Schuj- 
ler was born at Sycamore, DeKalb county. 
May 30, 1838, and died at Nunica, Michi- 
gan, February 7, 1876. Mr. Schuj'ler 
afterwards married a second wife, by whom 
he had one son. Joseph Sixbury, the father 
of Mrs. Mary E. Schuyler, was one of the pio- 
neers of Sycamore, locating in that place 
in 1837. He was one of the men who as- 
sisted in locating the county seat at Syca- 
more. Both he and his wife were de\'oted 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
in which he held the office of class leader 
and steward for several years. He was born 
in Amsterdam, Montgomery county, New 
York, November 7, 1810, and died at Syca- 
more, December 28, 1879. His wife was 
born at the same place, March 2, 1815, and 
died in 1880. 



HON. WILLIAM M. B\EKS, one of the 
old and prominent citizens of Y)e Kalb 
county, now residing in Sycamore, dates his 
residence from pioneer times, having come 
to the county in 1841, in company with his 
parents, and has here since cunliiuud lo 



"4 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



reside. He was born in Andes, Delaware 
county, New York, March 20, 1821, and is 
the son cf James and Jane (Scott) Byers, 
both of whom were native of Dumfrie.-^siiire, 
Scotland, where they were married prior to 
their emigration to this country. In his 
native land, James Byers was a herder, an 
occupation which was not a very profitable 
one. Learning of the opportunities afforded 
the poor man in the United States, he 
determined to make that land his home. 
Whh his family, in 1818, he set sail and in 
due time landed in New York, from which 
place he went to Delaware county, that 
state, where he purchased a farm of the 
Hardenburg patent, on which he resided for 
twenty-lhree \ ears. 

The great west was now being opened 
up for settlement, and the fame of the 
prairie state had penetrated the old state of 
New York, so he determined to sell out and 
move west, where the opportunities were 
still greater for advancement. In 1S41, he 
sold his place in New York, and came direct 
to De Kalb county', Illinois, and took up a 
claim in what is now South Grove township, 
a tract of land which he afterwards pur- 
chased when it came into market. On this 
tract he built a residence and commenced 
its improvement, and there he continued to 
reside during the remainder of his life. He 
continued to give personal attention to the 
management of his farm, as long as age and 
health would permit, when he sold, but 
reserved a home interest during his life. 
He died December 10, 1874. 

During the existence of that party, 
James Byers was an old-line Whig. A be- 
liever in the freedom of all mankind, he 
espoused the principles of the Republican 
party on its organization and continued to 
act with that party until the end. He was 



a leader among the people, and held various 
official positions, being a justice of the peace 
for many years. During the administration 
of the elder Harrison he was appointed 
postmaster of South Grove, being the second 
incumbent of the office at that place. Phys- 
ical h' he was a man of good size, strongi}' 
built and was usually in the. enjoyment of 
the best of health. His wife died in 1872. 
They were the parents of six children — 
John; William M., our subject; Christine, 
who married John Nichols; James; Asel B. ; 
and Jane, who died in childhood. Of this 
number, James and the subject of this 
sketch are all that are living. 

William M. B^ers was reared on the 
farm in Delaware county, New York, where 
he attended the common schools. He was 
not yet twenty-one when his parents came 
west. \\'hen of age he worked with his 
father in partnership, until he was twent}'- 
eight years old, when he mo\ed to the farm, 
which had been purchased for lum. in South 
Grove township, consisting of a quarter- 
section of land. At first he engaged in 
grain farming, and later went into stock and 
general farming. Soon after locating on his 
original farm, he purchased forty acres of 
raw prairie, after which he purchased one 
hundred acres adjoining his old farm. Later 
he added another hundred acres ad joining, 
and then purchased a quarter section in 
Malta township, which he fenced and culti- 
'\ated in connection with his other purchases. 
Soon after he purchased the first ipiarter- 
section of land, he then bought eight}' acres. 
Later he bought an eighty and a forty-acre 
tract, that squared his first purchase. His 
next purchase was a quarter section in South 
Grove township, which he cultivated, after 
which he bought the old homestead of three 
hundred and ninety-seven acres. He then 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



I I 



p.irchased thirty-five acres of tiinb-r land 
adjoining his first purchase. He now owns 
upwards of one thousand acres, having oc- 
casionally sold small tracts from his posses- 
sions. His farms are now worked on the 
shares. When he was actively engaged in 
farming he made a specialty of raising hogs, 
cattle, sheep and horses. All in all, the 
raising of hogs was the most profitable, 
though during the war sheep paid well. 

On the organization of the township, 
Mr. Byers was elected trustee, which posi- 
tion he held for some years, and was then 
elected township treasurer, holding that 
office for twenty-one years. For some 
years he served as road commissioner and 
was elected and served several terms as 
justice of the peace. In 1852, he was 
elected supervisor, and was then re-elected. 
After a lapse of a few years, he was again 
elected and re-elected three times. During 
the last three years of his term of service, 
he was chairman of the board, a position 
he filled to the entire satisfaction of its mem- 
bers and the public generally. 

In 1876, Mr. Byers was elected to the 
legislature from De Kalb county, and 
was re-elected in 1878, serving two 
terms. While a member he was chairman 
of the committee on miscellaneous subjects, 
and was on the committee of education, 
highways and other important committees. 
He was an active member, and represented 
his constituents with signal ability. 

Mr. Byers was united in marriage at 
South Grove, January 10, 1833, to Miss 
Mary Ann Adee, daughter of Jonathan and 
Jane (Thompson) Adee. She was a native 
of Delaware county, New York, while her 
father was a native of New York state, and 
her mother of Ireland. By this union were 
two children, John T. and .Augustus, the 



latter dying in iiifanc}'. John married 
Elizabeth Gibson, and they have si.\ chil- 
dren, three boys and three girls, Arthur, 
Myrtie, Charles, Mabel, Margaret and James. 
They reside on the old home farm. Mrs. 
Mary A. Byers died November 12, t856. For 
his second wife Mr. B3ers married, Septem- 
ber I, 1859, Miss Jane Adee, a sister of his 
first wife. They have had three children — 
Delia, Anna and Jenny. The first named 
died in 1887. Anna married Gilbert H. 
Denton, a manufacturer of mining machin- 
ery and building material, and they now 
reside in Denver, Colorado. By profession 
he is a lawyer. They have two children, 
\\"illiam B. and Karen Irene. Jenny is 
living at home. 

In 1876, Mr. Byers mo\ed with his fam- 
ily to Sycamore, where he purchased an 
elegant home on Somonauk street, where he 
is now living somewhat retired from active 
life. Since corning to the city, and during 
Mayor Elwood's term of office, he was call- 
ed upon and served as alderman two terms. 
He is one of the substantial men of the 
county, his farms being among the finest 
and best, and no man in it is held in higher 
esteem. A strong Republican, his influence 
in the party has ever been great, and he 
has done much to promote its interest. 
Religiousl}', Mrs. Byers is a member of the 
Congregational church at Sycamore'. For 
more than fifty years he has gone in and 
out among the people of De Kalb county, 
and it can be salely said that few men have 
done more to advance the material welfare 
of the county. 



o 



RLANDO CARTER, deceased, was 
one of De Kalb county's worthy pio- 
neers. Hi: Was burn m Chenango c(juiiI\', 



I i6 



TH1-: BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



New ^'o^k, |Hiiuary 29, 1830, and was 
eleven \ears of age when his parents, Jared 
and Lydia (Ames) Carter, removed to (Jhio, 
where the\- cimtiniied t(5 reside two years, 
and at the end of tliat time made another 
transfer to losva. In 1.S4S they came to 
Illinois and settled in l)e Kalb county, 
where the father became extensively engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. He died in July, 
1855, while his wife survived him a number 
of years, d\ing in No\ember. 1872. Their 
children were Eveline, Orlando, Clark, 
Da\id, Lydia, Jared and Joseph. 

Erom the time Orlando Carter accom- 
panied his parents to De Kalb county. Illi- 
nois, he made it the field of active opera- 
tions uj) to the time of his death, which oc- 
curred in 1895. He was twice married, 
his first wife being Miss Elizabeth Camp- 
bell, to whom he was wedded July 4, 1852. 
She was a native of New York, and the 
daughter of William and Sallie Campbell, 
who were formerly residents of Afton town- 
ship, De Kalb county, but who remo\ed in 
1879 to Nebraska. The Campbells came 
to De Kalb county about the same time the 
Carters did. Mrs. Carter died April 6, 1853, 
and Mr. Carter was again married in De 
Kalb, December 25, 1855, to Miss Huldah 
White, a native of New York, born Febru- 
ary 5, 1836. Her parents removed from 
New York to Kaneville, Kane county, Illi- 
nois, about 1840. In I 854 they remo\ed to 
De Kalb, Illinois, where her father died the 
following year of smallpox. His wife survived 
him many years, dying in i 892. Their family 
consisted of six children, Mrs. Carter being 
the only member of the family remaining 
in De Kalb county, the others residing in 
other parts. The children born to Oi lando 
and Elizabeth Carter were William O., born 
October 14, 1856; Charles D., November 



19. 1858; Jesse M., July 5, i8ui; Ernest, 
September 24, 1864; Eva, March 12, 1868; 
Mabel, October 23, 1871; and Cleo, July 
13, i87(). They are all living and residing 
in the cit}' of De Kalb, when- they were 
born . 

Mr. Carter led a life of activitj' and fru- 
gality, and was respected and esteemed b\- 
all who knew him. He was one of the sub- 
stantial men of the township, owning a fine 
farm of three hundred and twenty acres, all 
under excellent improvement. Besides this 
he owned valuable property in the city of 
De Kalb, where he resided for several years 
previous to his death. In 1881 he pur- 
chased a li\ery stable, and successfully con- 
ducted the business up to the time of his 
sickness, which resulted in his death. Po- 
litically he cast his lot with the Demo- 
cratic party. Fraternally he was a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
being a charter member of the lodge in De 
Kalb. His remains were laid to rest in the 
beautiful cemetery of De Kalb. 



PELEG S. WINSLOW, of Hinckley, 
Illinois, after a long and useful life, is 
now li\'ing retired. His residence in Illi- 
nois dates froin 1842, when he located in 
Kane county. He is a native of Massachu- 
setts, born in the town of Chalmont, Frank- 
lin county, March 3, 1823, and is the son 
of Dr. George Winslow, who was born in 
Vermont in 1783. The family are of En- 
glish descent, being descended from one of 
two brothers who came to America in the 
Mayflower and originally settled in Massa- 
chusetts. 

Dr George Winslow grew to manhutid 
in Vermont, there studied medicine, and 
later moved to Colerain, Massachusetts, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 1: 



where he began to practice his profession. 
He was married three times, his last wife 
being the mother of our subject. Her name 
was Harriet Severance, and she was a na- 
tive of Massachusetts. The Doctor prac- 
ticed in Massachusetts for some years and 
later came west, locating at Big Rock, Kane 
county, Illinois, where he resumed practice 
in which he continued some years, his pro- 
fessional services being required in both 
Kane and De Kalb counties. He died at 
Big Rock November 2, 1848, his wife sur- 
viving him for some years, dying in De Kalb 
county. 

Peeig S. Winslow spent his boyhood and 
youth in Massachusetts where he received 
a fair education in the common school and 
in Chalmont Seminary. From his boyhood 
he worked on a farm in summers, and at- 
tended school during the winter months. 
He remained at home until he attained his 
majority, when he came west to Kane coun- 
ty, Illinois, with Thomas Judd, who located 
there some years previous. On arriving in 
Kane county he went to work for Mr. Judd 
at Sugar Grove. On coming west, there 
being no railroad west of Ann Arbor, Mich- 
igan, he walked across that state to St. 
Joseph where he took a boat across the lake 
to Chicago, walking from there to Sugar 
Grove. After working for Mr. Judd during 
the summer of his arrival, in the fall of the 
same year, in partnership with his brother. 
Ebon Winslow, he purchased two hundred 
acres of raw land on credit, on the west line 
of Kane county. The following year he 
bioke and fenced forty acres, and in the 
second year put in a crop. After building 
a small shanty, twelve by fourteen feet, he- 
moved in and there lived while further de- 
veloping the place. He later built a large, 
peat and substantial residence with good barn 



and other outbuildings, and there successful- 
ly engaged in farming until 1874, when he 
came to Hinckley, but continued to give 
personal attention to his farm for four 
years, after which he rented the place. He 
then built a business house in Hinckley and 
engaged in agricultural implement business 
for fourteen years, then sold out and has 
since lived retired. 

At Sugar Grove, Kane county, Illinois, 
May 6, 1847, Mr. Winslow was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary Alice Randall, a 
native of Connecticut, born in North Ston- 
ington, June 26, 1828, and a daughter of 
Jedediah Randall, who located in Sugar 
Grove township, Ivane county, in 1842. 
Previous to this, however, he resided for a 
time in New York state, moving from there 
to Kane county, Illinois. By this union 
were three children, the first born dying 
when but five months old. Frank L. , the 
second born, is well educated, a telegraph 
operator, who served also as agent of the 
Chicago & Iowa Railroad at Hinckley for 
twenty-two years. He then went to Men- 
dota, and for three years was in the freight 
department of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Qnincy Railroad. He is now agent at Riv- 
erside, Illinois. He was married in Aurora 
to Ida E. Palmer, and they had one son, 
Ralph Palmer, who died when about seven- 
teen years of age. The third child of our 
subject is Belle, who remains at home and 
is housekeeper for her father. 

Mr. Winslow has been a Republican 
since the organization of the party, having 
voted for John C. Fremont in 1856, and 
for every presidential nominee of that party 
from that time to the present. He never 
desired nor would he accept office, save 
that of school director. His good wife died 
April 3, 1891. For man\' je^rs she was a 



1 iS 



Tin; r.IOGRAPHICAL KKCOKD. 



uieiiibtr ui the Baptist church, and was a 
firm believer in the (Christian religion, en 
deavorinfi lo walk faithfully in the steps of 
lier Master. Mi\ \\'insl(i\v is also a mem- 
ber of the Baptist church, and has for 
years taken a somewhat active part. For 
lifty-si.\ years he has been a resident of Illi- 
ncjis, ai.d is therefore classed among the 
(■arly settlers, one who has li\'ed to see the 
man\- wonderful changes that have so rap- 
idly followed each other in the last iialf 
century. His life has been an e.xemplary 
one, ;ii)d all who know him liave for him 
the utmost respect. 



HAK\ EV A. jOXES has been one of the 
leading members of the De Kalb coun- 
ty bar for o\era generation. He was born 
on the banks of the historical Burnett 
Creek, that winds its way through the old 
Tippecanoe battle ground, not many miles 
from Lafayette, Indiana, October 17, 1837. 
His paternal ancestors came from Cardigan- 
shire, South Wales, and settled on the 
Delaware Welsh tract, in 1710. where yet 
stands the old Welsh tract Baptist church, 
with British bullets imbedded in its walls, 
and where five of Mr. Jones' ancestors 
preached the gospel in the days before the 
Revolution. • 

David Jones, the father of our subject, 
was born near Richmond, \irginia, Febru- 
ary 18, 1798, and went with his parents to 
Monongahela county, Virginia, now West 
Virginia, when he was three years old. At 
the age of sixteen he was a pioneer of Clark 
county, Ohio, and in early manhood moved 
to Indiana, where he died November 11, 
1849. He married Mary Owens, daughter 
of Asa and Deborah (McMunn) Osvens, 



Southern Ouakers. whose anci,slors were of 
Savannah, Georgia. Jonathan Owens, the 
father of Asa, had his right hand cut off by 
the British durinij the l^evolution, becruise 
he would not tight, being a Quaker. 

Daniel |oiies, the grandfather of our 
subject, was born near Wilmington, Dela- 
ware, .Vpril 10, 1754. He died in Clark 
county, Ohio, May 12, iS^2. He was a 
pioneer in West X'irginia. but lived three 
sears in Greene county, PeiinsvKania, then 
settled in Clark county, Ohio. Kew David 
Jones — chaplain of " Mad Anthony " Wayne 
and of General Gates' regiments — was a 
cousin of Daniel Jones. He was the grand- 
father of Horatio Gates Jones, the historian 
of Philadelphia. (See Appleton's Biograph- 
ical Dictionary.) His father, the great- 
grandfather of our subject, was James Jones, 
a native of Wales, born in 1707, and who 
on coming to this country, located in New- 
Castle county, Delaware, where his death 
occurred May 26, 1786 He was a Baptist 
clergyman, and was a surgeon in the Ameri- 
can army, under General Gates. He mar- 
ried Susanna Williams of the Welsh tract. 
New Castle county, Delaware. His father 
I^ev. David Jones, who was a great-great- 
grandfather of our subject, was born in 
I'orrest ap I^lanwenog, Cardiganshire, 
Wales, in 1668, and came to .America in 
1710, settling in New Castle county, Dela- 
ware, where he died .August 20, 1748. He 
was a Calvinist Methodist clergyman, and 
married Esther Morgan, daughter of ^forgan 
ap Rhydrith, a chieftain in Cardiganshire, 
under Crotnwell. Asa Owen's people were 
from Wales, and as already stated were 
Quakers in religious belief. The ancestors 
of Deborah McMunn were also Quakers, and 
came from the north of Ireland. They 
came to the United States and located in 




HARVEY A. JONES. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL. RECORl 



12 I 



Georgia, with the Oglethorpe settlers. Biith 
tatiiilies were early settlers in Clark count}, 
Ohio, locating near Dayton, in 1812, where 
the parents of our subject were married. 
During their early married life, they emi- 
grated to Tippecanoe count}', Indiana. Of 
their children, Amanda married Benjamin 
Morehouse, and is now deceased. John M. 
C. was among the early seekers for gold in 
California, where he settled and later be- 
came sheriff of Siskiyou count}-. He died 
in 1882. Abel went to Oregon. |ames O. 
was graduated at the law department of the 
University of Michigan, but later became a 
farmer in Indiana. Deborah, who married 
Owen Hill, is deceased. Lewis is a farmer 
in Missouri. Levi M. was a real estate 
agent at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is now- 
deceased. Harve}- A., our subject, was 
next in order of birth. David C. was a 
graduate of the law department of the Uni- 
x'ersity of Michigan, figured quite promi- 
nently in politics in Tippecanoe, but is now- 
deceased. Asa F., was a physician and re- 
sided on the old homestead at Grand 
Prairie, Indiana, until his death. 

The early years of Harvey A. Jones were 
spent at home, like most farmer boys. Until 
the age of seventeen he attended the com- 
mon schools of his neighborhood, and then 
became a student in the Wabash Indiana 
College, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, finish- 
ing his literary course, however, at Lom- 
bard University, Galesburg. After leaving 
college in 1861, he went to Missouri, where 
he engaged in teaching. After a few months 
spent in that profession, on account of the 
Civil war, he was compelled to change his 
plans. Returning to Illinois, he became a 
studenffti the law office oi Hon. A. M. Har- 
rington, of Geneva, Kane count}-. He read 
law there until 1863, when he entered the 



Universit}' of Michigan, and was graduated 
from the law department in 1865. 

After leaving the university, Mr. Jones 
settled in Sycamore, Illinois, to commence 
the practice of his profession. He formed 
a partnership with Daniel B. James, later 
county judge, which partnership terminated 
in 1869. His next law partner was Charles 
A. Bishop, now judge of the sixteenth judi- 
cial circuit, who became associated with 
him in 1880, and who had been a student 
in his office. This partnership continued 
until 1887, when it was dissolved. The}- 
made a strong law firm, and there were few 
cases of importance in De Kalb county in 
which they were not on one side or the 
other. Later he formed a partnership with 
C. D. Rogers, which still continues. 

Mr. Jones practices in both state and 
federal courts, and during his long legal 
career has been associated with some of the 
most important litigations before the courts 
of this circuit. Among the noted cases in 
which he has been associated as counsel are 
Pritckard vs. Walker, in which he was 
counsel for the plaintiff; Walker vs. Pritck- 
ard, when he was counsel for the defendant; 
foius vs. Lloyd, when he was counsel fdr 
plaintiff; Pooler vs. Cliristman, when he 
was counsel for the plaintiff; Barroics vs. 
City of Sycamore. This last was a damage 
suit brought by the plaintiff against the city 
for the erection of a standpipe. This case 
was prosecuted by Mr. Jones, assisted by 
his partner. All of these cases mentioned 
were noted ones, and attracted wide atten- 
tion by their importance, and the legal 
ability with which they were conducted on 
both sides, and on account of the nice legal 
points involved. In the case of Halle vs. 
Ball — in which Mr. Jones took the position 
that a married woman had the right to sue 



I 32 



THE BIOGKAl'HICAL RECORD. 



in her own name. This was the first case 
of tlie kind to be brought in Illinois, the 
ie^ai ruling having heretofore been con- 
trary to his position. There has since been 
a law placed on the statute books permit- 
ting a woman to bring action in her own 
name. 

Mr. [ones is careful and methodical in 
the preparation of causes, and when he 
goes to trial either as a prosecutor or a de- 
fender, the client vvill not suffer the want 
for a vigorous, able and skillful handling of 
his cauje. Before a jury he is strong and 
convincing, always presenting the points in 
his case in a clear, logical and con\'incing 
niaTiner. He is a good advocate and good 
pleader, strong in his own case, and a for- 
midable opponent. 

Mr. Jones is a member of the Masonic 
Order, and has attained the Knight Tem- 
plar degree. He is also a member of the 
Independent Order of Odd F"ellows and the 
Knights of the Globe. Politically he has 
been a consistent Republican, and has given 
as much time to the advocacy of its prin- 
ciples as his arduous professional duties 
would allow. In 1888, he was presidential 
elector for the tilth Illinois district. He 
has always been an ardent temperance man, 
and with voice and pen has labored for the 
cause, believing however that its interests 
could the better be served through the Re- 
publican party. 

Neither in his reading or his studies has 
Mr. Jones confined himself to the law. His 
mind has taken a wide range in other fields 
of thought and literature, keeping himself 
well posted in the topics that interest the 
people in the closing days of the nineteenth 
century. He did not lea\e off study when 
he lell the college hall, but his books have 
still been his companions, often to shake 



off the dust of courts and law books, to re- 
fresh and soothe the spirit for a night's re- 
pose. 

During his long residence in Sycamore, 
his life both private and public has been 
such as to win the confidence and esteem of 
all. In seeking recreation and relief from 
professional labors, he has been greatly 
blessed in the companionship of an edu- 
cated and intellectual wife, who can find 
time from domestic duties to keep up her 
literary studies and reading. 

Mrs. Jones, /ur Sarah Dudley Perkins, 
has seven printed genealogies of Puritan 
families, five of them historical, who num- 
ber her among their descendants. She is 
in the eighth generation in direct descent 
from Governor Thomas Dudley, the second 
colonial governor, through the Rev. Samuel 
Dudley, of the first settlement of Exeter, 
New Hampshire, whose first wife was a 
daughter of Governor Winthrop. Thomas 
Dudley was the governor whose signature 
is affixed to the charter of Harvard College, 
and for whom the office of major-general 
was created, he being the first to ever bear 
the title. Her paternal ancestor, Quarter- 
master John Perkins, so called because he 
was sent across the ocean for supplies for 
the Puritans, was one of three brothers 
who came in the ship Lyon, 1628, with 
Roger Williams and the ancestor of Ralph 
Waldo Emerson for passengers. She is 
collaterally related (descended from the 
same Puritan ancestor) to Major-General 
Artemus Ward (who was the temporary 
commander-in-chief before Washington) and 
with Major-General Dearborn and Lorenzo 
Dow, the eccentric preacher. None of 
Mrs. Jones' ancestors came later than 1680, 
with the exception of Darby Kelley, who 
canie over in 1710, The late General B, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 21, 



F. Kelley, of West N'irginia, who raised the 
liist negro regiment south of Mason and 
Dixon's hne, was also a descendant of 
Darby Kelley. 

Sarah Dudley Perkins was born October 
14, 1838, at St. Charles, then known as 
Charleston, Kane county, Illinois. Her 
father, Otho Williams Perkins, came from 
Boston, Massachusetts, to Kane county, in 
June, 1834, where his only brother, Eph- 
riam, had already settled. The}' were born 
in Hebron, Grafton county, New Hamp- 
shire. Otho was two years the elder and 
was born |une 16, 1806. Mrs. Jones was 
the eldest of three children, her two broth- 
ers dyin^f before she was eighteen. The 
N'oungest, Otho \\'., Jr., died .April 15, 1855, 
at the age of fourteen, and Jonathan Dud- 
ley, the other brother, July 8, 1856, at the 
age of sixteen years. 

Otho W. Perkins was married to Nancy 
Kelley at St. Charles, Illinois, January 6, 
I 838, at the home of his cousin and Miss 
Kelley's brother-in-law, the husband of her 
youngest sister, Sarah Dudley Kelly. Mr. 
N. H. Dearborn was the pioneer justice of 
the peace in St. Charles. Sarah Dudley' 
(Kelley) Dearborn was born at New Hamp- 
ton, New Hampshire, and died at St. 
Charles, Illinois, October 12, 1838. The 
following poem written by Mrs. Jones, in 
October, 1886, was dedicated to her mem- 
ory: 



Oh! sky and meadow, wood and glen. 

Oh! murmuring river, fair as when 

I saw thee first in childhood's years. 

To-day, the pictured scene appears. 

Tranced by its glow, I watch the sky, 

(As^n the hillside turf I lie, 1 

And question what beyond — if true 

That thou sweet Aunt, thy namesake knew: 

While thy green grave, beside me spread, 

Was ray earliest les>on of the dead, 



.\nd one and fifty years have sped 

-Since thou wert numbered with the dead: 

I5ut tw'o bleak days shadowed thy tomb. 

Ere ope'd my eyes on a world of gloom: 

.Sad tears of vain regret must fall 

Upon my cradle, as a pall. 

For wintry blast's untimely sway, 

October's glory swept away: 

Mocking the promise the land had held, 

( )f fruitage fair, and garnered field. 

.\nd scarce ten years have ]iassed away, 

Since 1 wandered where thy girlhood lay: 

Where stern New England's hills arise. 

Whose white peaks pierce New Hampshire skies; 

And there I found thy memory green, 

Kept two score years, what thou hadst been. 

-And gray haired men, they spoke of thee, 

-\s the fairest flower of their memory, 

Trans|ilanted to tlie western wild. 

By untimely frosts and death despoiled. 

Otho W. Perkins was one of the pioneer 
Universalists of the west, and one of the 
thirteen who founded and built the first 
Universalist church west of the Great Lakes, 
at St. Charles, three years before even a 
Universalist society had been organized in 
Chicago. He also contributed liberally 
toward purchasing the printing press and 
establishing the first Universalist denomi- 
national paper in Chicago, "The Better 
Covenant", the predecessor of the present 
"Universalist", the Rev. William Rounse- 
ville, pastor from St. Charles, going to 
Chicago to be editor of the paper. 

The father of Otho W. Perkins, born in 
Ipswich, Mass., wis a descendant of " Ouar- 
termaster ' John Perkins, who came from 
Gloucestershire, England, with his father's 
family, to Salem, thence to Ipswich, in the 
ship Lyon, in 1628. The wife of Jacob 
Perkins, the maternal grandmother of O. 
W. Perkins, was Hannah Andrews, a 
descendant of Captain John Andrews (some- 
times spelled Andrus;, who came to Ipswich 
in 1630. Captain John Andrews was also 



124 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the ancestor of John A. Andrews, the war 
governor of Massachnselts during the Civil 
war. 

The mother of Otho W. Peri<ins was 
Thirza Dearborn, who died when her son 
was but five years old. She was a descend- 
ant of Godfrey Dearborn of the first settle- 
ment of Exeter, New Hampshire, then part 
of the Massachusetts Colony, who came 
from Devonshire, England, in 1628. He 
\>as also the American ancestor of Major- 
General Htnry Dearborn, the commander- 
in-chief in the war of 1812, and the one for 
whom Eort Dearborn was named. The 
mother of Thirza Dearborn, the maternal 
grandmother of Otho W. Perkins, was Abi- 
gail Ward, ihe daughter of the Rev. Nathan 
Ward, who was the first Congregational 
clergjnian in Plymouth, New Hampshire. 
The youngest sister of Thirza Dearborn, 
Eliza (Dearborn) Scott, is yet living in 
Exeter. New Hampshire, and on her eighty- 
sixth birtliday the Boston newspapers 
chronicled the fact that she was the oldest 
living v\idow of a Methodist clergyman in 
New England. She is a widow and was the 
second wife of the Rev. Orange Scott, who 
separated from the Methodist Episcopal 
church ou tluf slavery question, and founded 
the W'esleyau organisation. (See Apple- 
ton's Biographical Dictionary, for Orange 
Scott. ) Abigail Ward was a descendant of 
William Ward, of Siidltiiry, who was also 
the ancestor of Artenius Ward, who was the 
provisional Major-General in the Revolu- 
tion, before Washington. 

The mother of Mrs. Jones, Nancy Kelly, 
was born in New Hampton, Belknap (then 
Stafford) county, New Hampshire, July 30, 
1807, She was the daughter of Dudley and 
Ruth (Dow I Kelly. Her education was 
obtained in the New Hampton Female Sem- 



inary, once the leading preparatory for col- 
lege in New England. Her father, who 
was one of the trustees of the school for 
many vears, was a finished scholar and for 
many years was a teacher. He was born in 
Exeter, the suburb of Brentwood, in 1761. 
He enlisted at the age of sixteen in the Rev- 
olutionary army. His father was Darby 
Kelly, son of Daniel, who was born in 
Waterford, Ireland, in 1700, and who at 
the age of ten years ran away to sea as a 
cabin boy, on a ship of which his cousin 
was captain, coming to Portsmouth, New 
Hampshire. When he refused to recross 
the ocean, he was left by his kinsman, and 
never saw or heard of any of his people 
afterward. He was adopted into the family 
of Phillip Huntoon, of Exeter, whose 
daughter Sarah he married, at the age of 
twenty-eight. (See Huntoon Genealogy.) 
His second wife was Sarah Dudley (1 760), 
who was a granddaughter of the Rev. Sam- 
uel Dudley, of the first Exeter settlement. 
He was the eldest son of Governor Thomas 
Dudley, the second colonial governor. 
Rev. Samuel Dudley's first wife, was a 
daughter of Governor Winthrop. (See 
Dudley Genealogy.) 

The ancestor of Governor Thomas Dud- 
ley was Edmund de Sutton, who was one of 
the knights who came over with William 
the Norman. Edmund de Sutton was the 
first baron of Dudley. He married the Sax- 
on heiress of Dudley castle, which was 
then five hundred years old. The numer- 
ous descendants of Governor Thomas Dud- 
lej' include son^e of the most illustrious 
names in our country, among them the 
Channings, the Danas, the famous Field 
family, of whom Cyrus W. . David Dudley 
and Chief Justice Field are members, Wen- 
dall Phillips. Oliver Wendall Holmes, and 



THE BIOGRAPHIC.VL Kn(~()KI). 



I2S 



a score of others almost as well known to 
fame. Thomas Dudley was the governor 
who signed the charter of Harvard College, 
and almost alwaj-s since some descendant 
has been a member of the faculty. Charles 
Eliot Norton, at the present time, is one of 
Governor Dudley's descendants. Both of 
the wives (cousins Dana and Channing) ol 
Washington .\lston, the painter, also the 
second wife of Sir Ed vin Arnold, an Ameri- 
can lady who was a Channing, and the wife 
of Edward Everett Hale (who is a grand- 
daughter of Re\'. Lyman Beecher), is a 
descendant both of Governor Dudley and 
John Perkins. (See Dudley Genealogy, i 
Ann Dudlej' Bradstreet was a daughter of 
Governor Thomas Dudley and the sister of 
Rev. Samuel Dudley and Governor Joseph 
Dudley. She married Simon Bradstreet 
and published the first book of poems in 
America. The following sonnet acrosticx 
on the three Dudleys was written b}' Mrs. 
Jones in 18S4 and published in the Inter- 
Ocean: 

1. 
(.Ann Dudley Bradstreet.) 
.Vdown two centuries and a half thy fame 
Vow wakes faint echo as we speak tliy name, 
Nor holds on modern thought but feeble claim. 
But thou, the first verse-writer of our land, 
Reign'st as the first and hold'st that place the same 
As thou wert laureate of that Pilgrim band, 
Down to our time thy chait of rank will stand. 
.Sober and serious, earnest — never vain — 
The Puritans held their life and speech and deed. 
Robbed of all flowers, they sought but ripened seed. 
Earth-life they shaped to fit their somber creed; 
Each act in view of their immortal gain. 
Thou only sang'st with repressed and formal strain. 
U. 
(Sir Philip Sidney.! 
The brightest star that, undimnied by mist or cloud. 
Out of the darkness shines of that dark age. 
Pouring a luster o'er the tarnished page — 
History unrolls of the cruel base and proud 
In every grace of manly chivalrv, 
l.i\ing the truest, highest, noblest. b<-si: 



In courage, art, thy life pales all the rest. 
Pales as the rushlight in the light of day, 
So to the end, on Zutphen's field of blond. 
In glory's panoply thy life went down; 
Death found thee but to give a shining crown 
Never to fade, her model of every good 
England still holds thee, still thy fame has stood 
Yet deemed her flower of chivalrv and manhood. 
111. 
(Sii Robert I )iidliv.i 
Si) e\er, 11 abuM-lhc r.ibble raised, 
In fortune's favor or .1 prince's sinilc. 
Roused in all hatred, malice, envv's guile, 
Revenge with it's sharp spite their names assail. 
I )n you it fell not, Leicester, the while - 
Beyond their ieelile shafts, while they dispraised. 
ICven though ambition, the evil of thv day. 
Ruled in thy heart and life, still were you strong 
To hew thy path regardless of the throng. 
Darker the fate that swept thy sire away; 
I'nder its ban his sire, too, met his fate- 
Doomed by that innate power that marked them 

great — 
Lies, slanders, vile surmise, of all the prey 
Envy, that could not reach their high estate, 
^'elped at their heels to tlieir last fated day. 

The mother of Nancy Kelly Perkins (Mrs. ' 
[ones' inaternal grandmotherj was Ruth 
Dow, born in Old Hainpton, New Hamp- 
shire. Her father, Jonathan Dow, was the 
first cousin of Lorenzo Dow, the eccentric 
preacher, who visited at the home of Dud- 
ley Kelly in 1810, when Nancy Kelly was 
three years old. This was during Lorenzo 
Dow's last tour through the New England 
states. Their American Dow ancestor was 
also the ancestor of General Neal Dow, the 
famous Maine Law champion. 

Mrs. Jones was educated in a select 
school at St. Charles, with one year at St. 
Agatha's Academy, Sisters of Mercy, Chi- 
cago, where she was awarded the gold medal 
for composition in 1855. The old acadetny 
building before the Chicago fire was where 
Mercy Hospital now stands. In xAugust, 
1857. she entered Lombard LT|-,jygpgj(-y 
Galeslmrg, Illinois, fur the four \ears clas- 



I 26 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECOKD. 



sical course. She was a fellow student for 
the four \ears with Harvey A. Jones. They 
were niarriet! at Galesburf,', at the home of 
Rev. J. P. Fuller, February 22, 1861. Rev. 
Fuller was the first Universalist preacher in 
the state of Missouri, and the second in Illi- 
nois, f'^or one year succeeding their mar- 
riage Mr. |ones taught school in Callaway 
county, Missouri, and studied law at the 
same time. On account of the increasing 
danger to Northern residents, they left the 
state the second year of the war, and on ac- 
count of the serious illness of Mrs. Jones' 
mother, they went to St. Charles, Illinois, 
where after a lingering illness the mother 
died June 28, 1863. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of 
seven children as follows; ( 1 j Dudley Keli}\ 
born and ditd May 5, 1862, at St. Charles, 
Illinois. (2) Mary Fuller, born at St. Charles, 
May 10, 1863. She was married at Sjca- 
"more, Illinois, Noxember 27, 1884, to Elmer 
Jerome Baker, the publisher and one of the 
proprietors of the Chicago Farm Implement 
News. The\ were married bj- the Rev. I). 
P. Baker, the father of the groom. Mr. 
Baker was educated at the High School in 
Sycamore, supplemented by an attendance 
of one jear at Wheaton College, and at the 
State University, Cliamiiaign, Illinois. Mr. 
anti Mrs. Baker have two children, Ruth 
Mary, born September 29, 1885, and Elmer 
Jerome, Jr., born in Chicago, January 3, 
1889. At the present time. Miss Ruth Mar}', 
accompanied by her mother, who is super- 
intending her studies, is now traveling and 
attending school abroad. During the fall 
and winter of 1897 she was at school at 
Nice, Italy, and at present is in Rome, Italy. 
Mrs. Baker was educated at the Sycamore 
High School, from which she graduated. 
She attended the Musical Conservator}' at 



Fort Wa)-ne, Indiana, and at Vassar, Pough- 
keepsie. New York. ( 3) Owen Dudley was 
born at Sycamore, November 21, 1865, and 
died January 21, 1867. (4) Anna Kelly, 
born at Sycamore, February 10, 1869, was 
married July 10, 1889, at Sycamore, to 
George Manford Clayberg, principal of the 
Chicago West Division High School. They 
were married l)y the Rev. ]. E. June, pas- 
tor of the Universalist church at Sycamore. 
Mr. Clayberg was educated at Michigan 
Unix'ersity, where he took the mathematical 
prize and won the Houghton Scholarship 



in 186: 



He also attended a course of lect- 



ures at the German universities. Mrs. 
Clayberg received her primary education in 
the Sycamore schools, and took the four- 
years course and graduated from the Chi- 
cago West Division High School in the class 
of 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Clayberg have had 
three children — Harold Dudley and Harvey 
Alston (twinsV born January 24, 1892, in 
Chicago, and Dorothea Marion, born at Oak 
Park, July 27, 1893. Harvey Alston died at 
Oak Park, July 3, 1892.(5) Harvey Alston, 
Jr., was born at Sycamore, October 28, 
1 87 1, and died April 12, 1880. (6) Sarah 
Dudley, born at Sycamore, June 24, 1873, 
died July 15, 1S73. (7) David Ducley, born 
July 21, 1874, at Sycamore, died April 5, 
1880. 

On the first birthda}' of her second child, 
Mary Fuller, Mrs. Jones penned the follow- 
ing poem, which was printed in the Chicago 
journal: 

One year okl to-day' 

Our little baby girl. 
The cloud-flecked skies, with clearest ray 

Blend azure tint with pearl. 
And all around the glorious May 

Its banners gay unfurl — 
Just as it welcomed you, our pet — 
I'o life and love that guards vou vet. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Vour footsteps falter iun\ 

Upon a threshold new, 
While on your pure young baby-brow 

Missteps have left no rue; 
Thus may your future footstejis go 

In pathways straight and true; 
Xo bitterness of sin and tears 
To blight the joy of coming years. 

Within your eyes 1 look, 
Sweet babe, so dark and deep. 

And your broad, fair brow is a sealed book 
Of latent powers that sleep; 

Lithe, restless limbs that will not brook 
A long restraint to keep. 

While in your pouting lips we know. 

Are affection's power and fervent glow. 

Within your tiny veins 

The life-blood mingling flows, 
From Georgia's bright Savannah plains. 

And bleak New England's snows; 
If beauty's spell around thee reigns, 

May life high aims disclose, 
.Vnd the wild .South-tire, may its glow- 
Be pure and clear as Xew England's snow . 

Sweet birdling of the May, 

That fills our own home-nest 
With music, gladsome as the lay 

rhat thrills the wood-bird's breast. 
May ev^r flowers spring round thy way. 

No thorns bring thee unre.st, 
Till the flowers immortal bloom for thee, 
.Still farther on o'er death's dark sea. 



THEODORE O. BERG resides on sec- 
tion 19, Milan township, where he owns 
a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, 
which he keeps under the liighest state of 
cultivation. He is a native of Norwa}', 
born near Christina, November 23, 1833, 
and in his native coimtry grew to manhood 
and received a limited education. In 1853, 
he came to the United States, tai<ing ship 
at Christina, for Quebec, from which place 
he came directly west to Chicago, arriving 
in that city. He made the trip with his 
brother Ole Berg, and they went direct to 
l^a Salle coimt\', where oiu' subject com- 



menced work on a farm by the month, and 
continued to be thus employed for one year, 
when he was taken sick, and remained in ill 
health for two years. He then resumed 
work on a farm, and later ptirchased a 
threshing machine and engaged in threshing 
and also in teaming. 

.Mr.Berg was -narried in Henderson coun- 
ty, Illinois, in 1858, to Maria Donaldson, a 
nati\e of Norway, who came to the United 
States in the spring of 1853, and located 
first in Chicago, after which she went to 
Henderson county. .After marriage, Mr. 
Berg rented a farm for three years in Hen- 
derson cotmt}', which he opetated, and in 
1864 moved to De Kalb county and pur- 
chased eighty acres of unimpro\'ed land in 
Milan township, on which he located, and 
as time passed, made other purchases of 
land until he was the owner of si.x hundred 
acres, all of which was well improved. His 
home place may be considered a model farin, 
having all the impro\ements used on a farm at 
the present time, including a gasoline engine 
for pumping water for stock and grinding 
feed for the same. Coming to this coimtry 
without a dollar, his success in life has been 
remarkable, and all has been acquired by 
his own labor, assisted by his good wife. 
They are the parents of two children, Oscar 
T. , who is married and residing on the old 
farm, and Amelia, wife of A. Sanderson, a 
farmer of Milan township. They have lost 
three children. Caroline grew to woman- 
hood, married Charles Sanderson, and died 
leaving six children. Oscar died at the age 
of four years, and Caroline died in infancy. 
To each of his children he has given good 
farms, while yet retaining the home farm of 
three hundred and twenty acres. 

In addition to his general farming, Mr. 
Berg h;is for years owned and operated a 



12S 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



steam thresher, and has now one of the 
most com|)lete threshing machines manu- 
factnred. He began the business before 
coming to De Ralb county, and has con- 
tinued in the same to the present time, 
making it a source of some revenue. He 
has always been in favor of good roads, and 
Inr six years served as commissioner of high- 
ways, giving n)uch of iiis time to the im- 
provement i)( the roads. Politically he is a 
Kcpiihlican, hut is not what is now termed 
a politician. He believes in the principles 
of the party and annually votes his party 
ticket. He and his wife have been life long 
members of the I^iitheran church. The}' 
are good people and are held in the highest 
esteem wherever known. 



M' 



OKKIS WILLEV IS one of the lead- 
uii; larmers of DeKalb township. His 
beautifnl and [nodiictivc fanvi is situated on 
sections 28, 21 and 33, and consists of 
three hundred and thirty acres. This farm 
he did not inherit, but it is the result of in- 
cessant toil, rigid economy and practical 
honesty. He is in ever)' sense of the word 
a self-made man. Everything about his 
farm has the appearance of thrift, his build- 
ings being models of neatness, while his 
stock shows excellent care. 

Mr. Willey was born in Jefferson coun- 
ty. New York, July 5, 1S27, and is the son 
of l-'.leazer and Wealthy (Marsh) Willey, 
both of whom were natives of the same 
state. Eleazer Willey was a man of integ- 
rity and influence in his native town. He 
was a strict member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, and for years held the posi- 
tion i)f class leader iii the same. His death 
occurred in 1832, his wife surviving him a 
few yeais, dying in 1838. There were se\ en 



children born to them, our subject being 
sixth in order of birth. He was reared and 
educated in his native town, where he re- 
mained until he was sixteen years of age, 
when he came to Illinois in company with 
S. Richardson, with whom he had lived 
after the death of his parents. They lo- 
cated at Aurora, Illinois, where our subject 
remained until after he reached his major- 
it\', when he left his foster father and worked 
out 1))- the nionth. 

In 1S50, in company with others, Mr. 
Willey took the o\erland route for Cali- 
fornia, where he arrived after a very tedious 
journey of some months. While in that 
new Eldorado, he worked in the mines, and 
in the course of two years accumulated 
about fifteen hundred dollars. Satisfied 
with his experience in California, he re- 
turned to Illinois, and in Del'Calb count}- 
rented land for a short time, and became 
quite a successful farmer, so much so that in 
1855, he purchased one hundred and sixt_\' 
acres, a portion of his present farm, to 
which he added from time to time, until it 
has reached three hundred and thirty acres. 

On the 14th of July, 1855, Mr. Willey 
married Miss Mary Bo\ee, a native of Boone 
county, Indiana, born October 9, 1838, and 
a daughter of Richard and Orpha Z. Bovee. 
The latter was born in 181 1, and three of 
her uncles were soldiers in the Rexolutionar}' 
war, and witnessed the hanging of Major 
Andre, of the British army. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Willey nine children have been born: 
W'arren B., born March 14, 1857; Harry, 
January 17, 1859, and who died March 20, 
1884; Sarah I., April 4, 1 861, and who died 
September 29, 1867; Caroline, .August 
15, 1863, and who died February 11. 1894; 
Eliiia C, October 30, 18^13 ; Etnily, Septem- 
ber 21, 1869; Wealthy .M., .April 3, 1S72; 




MORRIS WILLEY. 




MRS. MORRIS WILLEY. 



THE r.IOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Richard M., FebruRrvi3. iR75;and Lelah 
L., July 6, 1878. 

Mr. Willey and his family are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, a 
church with which he has been connected 
since January, 1858, and of which he has 
been a faithful member, many times holding 
responsible offices in it, and now servins^ as 
trustee. .As a citizen he is progressive and 
enterprising, being at all tnnes willing to do 
his full share in the upbuilding of his adopted 
county, which has now been his home for 
nearlj- lialf n centur\'. Their home is one 
of hospitality, and their friends are many. 



J 13. AURNER is a retired farmer resid- 
ing in De Kalb, Illinois, and is a pioneer 
of 1834. He was born [anury 6, 181 8, 
near I^erwick, and is the son of Henry and 
Betsy (Beiick) Aurner. By occupation 
Henry Aurner was a weaver, and removed 
from Berwick in the spring of 1829, to 
Geneseo, New York, to better his financial 
condition. He reniMined in Geneseo for a 
niunber of years, but finally removed to 
Western Illinois, and eventually found his 
waj' to De Kalb county, in 1846, twelve 
years after his son, j. B., had made it liis 
home He died in 1852, at the age of ninety 
years, while his wife survived him, dying in 
1858, at the age of eighty-eight years. 
Their lives were long, eventful and useful. 
Tradition tells us that the grandfather of 
Henry Aurner was secretary to William 
Penn. His family consisted of eight chil- 
dren, two of whom are yet living, Henry 
F. and J. B. 

The subject of this sketch spent his boj'- 
hood in Pennsylvania, and in New York, 
where he remained until his fourteenth 



year. In 1832, he went to Michigan and 
there spent one year. This, as well as sub- 
sequent years, was one of varied exper- 
iences He was now beginning to hew out 
his own destiny in a new country, with few 
advantages and little if any encouragement. 
In 1833, he traveled through Illinois, but did 
not locate. He was then in company with, 
and in the employ of an Indian trader, 
whose custom was to spend the milder part 
of the year in traveling through Illinois, but 
wintering in Michigan, where facilities for 
comfort were greater. Mr. .Anrner was in 
this count}' when the first election was 
held, previous to its becoming Kane county, 
but did not then make it his permanent 
home. He saw it pass from La Salle to 
Kane, and from Kane to De Kalb county, 
during his early years. It was not, however, 
until 1847 that he came to stay perrna- 
nenth- and winter in the count\-. 

From 1837 to 1 84S he made his home 
with William A. Miller, for whom he worked 
and from whom he learned the carpenter's 
trade. Three of these eleven years were 
spent on the upper Mississippi, carrying the 
mail for .Mr. Miller, who had the contract from 
Fort Crawford to Fort Snelling. He subse- 
quently worked on the lower Mississippi one 
and a half years as a boathand, but sickness 
caused him to abandon this vocation. All 
this time he was looking after and improv- 
ing his land in De Kalb cf)unty. 

On the 1st of February, 1849, Mr. 
.\urner married Miss Adelaine Jarrod, a 
native of Tioga county. New York, March 
17, 1828, and the daughter of Jeremiah and 
Orpha Jarrod, who removed from New 
York to Ohio, in 1830, thence to Illinois. 
in 1837, and to Wisconsin, in 1840, where 
they remained some years, but finally re- 
moved to Blackhawk comitw Iowa, where 



'34 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mrs. Jarrod died May 15, 1873, at the age 
of seventy- one 3ears. She was born in 
Watertown, New York, in 1802. Mr. Jar- 
rod was born in Long Island, in 1798, and 
died in March, 1885, at the age of eighty- 
seven years. 

To J. B. and Adelaine Aurner two chil- 
dren were born, George H., January 3, 
1850, and Annette A., May 31, 1852. 
George H. Aurner became a physician of 
wide reputation and practice. He received 
his primary education in De Kalb, and first 
began reading medicine under Dr. Hopkins, 
a well-known physician of De Kalb, and 
completed his course at Rush Medical Col- 
lege, Chicago, from which lie graduated in 
1 87 I, at the age of twenty-one years. He 
began his practice in Ogle coLinty, where he 
met with good success, and where he re- 
mained eigiit years. He then removed to 
Hanover, Kansas, where he met witii the 
same success, and where in addition to his 
practice, he engaged in the drug trade. No 
man was more beloved, none could be more 
successful. His carefulness of patients and 
strict personal attention to every detail, cost 
him his life. He contracted the disease and 
also bloodpoisoning. while attending a pa- 
tient suffering from diphtheria. He departed 
this life April 11, 1891. He married Miss 
Hattie Smith, January i, 1871, and who 
died April 6, 1888, leaving four children: 
George A., born June 15, 1872; Grace H., 
January 7, 1874; Myrtle B., August 26, 
1876; and Edna May, December 9, 1878. 
The Doctor subsequently married and by 
the second marriage had one child, Ida A., 
born January 16, 1891. Annette .burner 
married Noyes Belknap, November 8, 1879, 
and for a second husband she married W. 
C. Keeler, yardmaster of the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railway, at De Kalb, Illinois. 



This latter marriage was solemnized Octo- 
ber 15, 1 890. 

The first purchase of land made bj- our 
subject consisted of two hundred and eighty 
acres, which cost him one dollar and twen- 
ty five cents per acre. To this he added 
two hundred and eighty acres more, these 
purchases being made under the administra- 
tions of Presidents Van Buren and Polk, 
whose names are attached to his deeds. 
Half of this land he disposed of, and now 
owns two hundred and thirty acres of highly 
improved land. Mr. .\urner is much re- 
spected by his fellow citizens for his sterh'ng 
worth. 



WILLIAM M. ATHERTON is a vet- 
eran of the war for the Union, and 
an enterprising farmer residing on section 
19, Paw Paw township. He was born in 
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, March 21, 
1 84 1, and is the son of Ralph Atherton, a 
native of Massachusetts, born April i, 1804. 
The paternal grandfather, Jonathan Ather- 
ton, was also a native of Massachusetts, 
and there spent his entire life, his old home- 
stead being still owned and occupied by one 
of his sons, Zora Atherton. In his native 
state Ralph Atherton grew to manhood, 
being one of four sons, all of whom are over 
six feet in height. He went to Pennsyl- 
vaniaa young man in 1828, locating in Lu- 
zerne county, where he married Maria Sine, 
a native of New Jerse}', who went to Lu- 
zerne county a miss of twehe years, with 
her father, Phillip Sine, who was a miller 
by occupation, and there engaged in the 
milling business. Ralph .\therton was a 
shoemaker by trade, and served an appren- 
ticeship of seven years. He opened up a 
store and engaged in the boot and shoe 



THE BIOGRAPHICAI. RECORI:. 



1.1^ 



business for several years in Scranton, 
Pennsyhania. In 1843 he came tn DeKalb 
county, Illinois, and entered a tract of two 
hundred acres, a portion of which now com- 
prises the farm of our subject. Locating on 
his claim he built a log house, in which he 
lived for eight years, while improving the 
farm. During the winter he worked at his 
trade, and carried on quite an extensive 
business, making boots and shoes for the 
people in the surrounding couiitrv. The old 
log house gave place to a more modern 
frame building after eight years, and he 
there reared hisfamil)'. .\fter the death of 
bis wife, he went to Kansas and resided 
with a son two or three years, then returned 
to Illinoisand spent his last years, dying at 
the residence of a daughter in Lee county, 
September 6, 1890, at the age of eighty-six 
years. In his family were seven sons and 
four daughters, of whom four sons and three 
daughters yet survive. 

\\'illiam M. Atherton came to DeKalb 
county, when a child, and grew to manhood 
on the farm where he now resides. .\ftcr 
attending the common schools, he spent 
several terms in I'nion Acadeni}', at Paw 
Paw. He w.is married in Sycamore, Feb- 
ruary 2, 1861, to Miss Hllen Hurrii, a native 
of Ohio, but who whs reared in DeKalb 
county. In tlie spring of 1862, he engaged 
in farming, but his ser\ ices were in demand 
by the government, and August I J, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company K, Seventy-fifth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, a company raised 
at West Paw Paw. and in which his two 
brothers. Benjamin F. and Zora, also en- 
listed. The regiment was assigned to the 
Army of the Cumberland, and participated 
in many engagements during its term of 
service. In the battle of Perryville, Ken- 
tucky, October 8, 1862, it lost two hundred 



and forty-five men, and among the killed 
was Zora Atherton, and among the wounded 
was Benjamin F. Atherton. Among the 
other engagements in which the regiment 
participated, were Stone River, Liberty Gap, 
Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Lookout Moun- 
tain and Mission Ridge. At Lookout Moun- 
tain the company of our subject was on 
the wagon road skirmish line. Later the 
regiment was at Ringgold, and following 
was in the siege and surrender of Atlanta. It 
was in all the battles in the campaign from 
Chattanooga to the surrender of .Atlanta in 
1864. On the way down it was in the fight 
at Dalton, and returning was in the fight at 
Franklin, and also at Nashville, together 
with a great many lesser fights and' skir- 
mishes. From the 24th of November, 
1862, our subject was never off duty nor 
lost any time from sickness. He was dis- 
charged at Chicago, July 4. 1865. and re- 
turned to his home and resumed his place 
upon the farm. 

While still in the service. December ig, 
1864, his wife died, leaving one son, Harrs' 
Lincoln, now grown and married, and en- 
gaged as a telegraph operator \,\ Oklaho- 
ma. In Lee county, Illinois, December 
10, 1865. Mr. Atherton married Miss Elea- 
nor Stone, a native of New York state, 
who came west with her father, William 
Stone, who was one of the pioneers of De- 
Kalb county, and who now resides at East 
Paw Paw. .After marriage, he located on 
a forty-acre tract, which he purchased ad- 
joining the farm where he now resides, and 
there engaged in farming until 1869, when 
he rented the place and moved to Califor- 
nia, where he purchased one hundred and 
sixty acres of land and engaged in raising 
grain. Ill luck attended him, the drv 
we.'ither ruining two crops, but the thii<l 



>3t> 



THK BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



year he raised a fine crop, but having enough 
of California, in 1872, he returned to De 
l\alb county, and purchased ont- hiuidicd 
and riiirt)' acres of his father's old place, 
and some years later purchased the remain- 
der, and has there since been activel}' en- 
gaged in farming. 

In 1883 Mrs. Atherton died. B\' the 
last marriage there were five children. Ad- 
die grew to womanhood, married, but is 
now deceased. Ralph L. is married and en- 
gaged in farming in Lee county. Benjamin 
F. enlisted in the Third Illinois \'olunteer 
Infantry as a member of Company- M, in 
the late war with Spain. Wilbur A. C. is 
assisting in carrying on the home farm. 
Jonathan \V. resides with his parents. 

Politically .Mr. Atherton was a Repub- 
lican for many years, then a Greenbacker 
and later a Prohibitionist, but in 1896 sup- 
ported Bryan and free silver. For three 
years he served assessor of his township, and 
for five years was school director of his dis- 
trict. In the fifty-five years of his residence 
in De Kalb county he has made many 
warm friends and few enemies. 



WILLIAM BLAIR is a retired farmer 
residing in the village of Malta. He 
was born in Barrickshire, Scotland, Febru- 
ary 28, 1824, and is the son of Robert and 
Jane (Dickson) Blair, both of whom were 
natives of the same shire. Robert Blair 
was by trade a weaver, but handlooms be- 
ing superseded by machinery, he abandoned 
his trade and engaged in farming. Our 
subject coming to this country in 185 i, his 
parents followed him the ne.xt year, locat- 
ing at St. Charles, Illinois, where they re- 
sided two years, when they removed to Du 
Page county, Illinois, and remained three 



years, after which they came to De Kalb 
county, wlure they resided during the re- 
mainder cil then- lives. Robert Blair died 
.May -|. iSiji, at the age of ninet\'-tliree 
years, while his wife died August 6, 187(1, 
in her seventy-ninth year. Their family 
consisted of nine children, of whom five 
grew to maturity, William being third in 
order of birth. 

William Blair was reared and educated 
in his native country, and five years prior 
to his emigration to America he served as a 
tobacconist and chandler. He was twenty- 
seven years of age when he left his native 
land and came to America. After residing 
here for a time he sent for his parents, and 
on their arrival cared for them during the 
remainder of their li\es. In May, 1857, he 
bought a farm of one hundred and si.xty 
acres in Mihn township, to which he soon 
added eight\' more acres, and still later pur- 
chased one hundred and five acres, making 
him a fine farm of three hundred and forty- 
five acres. All this was in its wild state 
when purchased, but now it is handsomely 
improved and supplied with all that is mod- 
ern in the farming world. He was an all 
around farmer, confining himself to no par- 
ticular line, but was a success in whatever 
he undertook. In 1891 he built a cream- 
ery on his place, which was run by his son 
|ohn until 1898, when, the labor required 
in running both creamery and farm being 
too great, he disposed of the former to some 
Chicago parties. The output of butter 
manufactured was quite large. 

On November 13 1856, Mr. Blair was 
joined in marriage with Miss Mary McNeil, 
daughter of John and Mary McNeil, both 
natives of Scotland, who came to this coun- 
try in August, 1855. By this union six 
children have been born, all of whom are 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



137 



yet living, name!)-: Robert H., John N., 
Mary J., Alice D. and Edith. 

In politics Mr. Blair is a Republican, 
and has been honored with nearly all the 
offices the citizens of his township could 
bestow upon him. He and his wife are 
consistent members of the Congregational 
church. 



GEORGE WOOD, a retired blacksmith 
residing in De Kalb, was born at East 
Lothain, Scotland, September 9, 1818. His 
parents, Robert and Beatrice (Thorn) Wood, 
were natives of Scotland, and lived and died 
on their native soil. They were honest, up- 
right and industrious psople. Robert died 
in 1848, at the age of sixty-six years, his 
wife surviving him until 1878, dying at the 
age of eighty-five years. Their family con- 
sisted of eight children, three of whom are 
now living: Robert, a resident of New 
Zealand; John, residing in New York; and 
George, our subject. 

The subject of this sketch resided in 
Lothain, Scotland, until he reached his 
fifteenth year, when he removed to the 
county of Edinboro, where he served an ap- 
prenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, though 
a part of the time working in the city of 
Edinburgh. In that county he continued 
to remain, working as a journeyman black- 
smith, up to 1 85 1, at which time he em- 
barked for the United States. Arriving in 
New York, he remained in that state for 
four years. In 1855, '1^ removed to May- 
field, Illinois, w^here he remained one year, 
and in 1856 moved to De Kalb, where he 
opened a shop on Nfain street. Since locat- 
ing in De Kalb, he has- been quite success- 
ful and has hammered out on his anvil 
some valuable city property. He now owns 



five choice lots, upon two of which are ex- 
cellent dwellings, one being occupied by 
himself. In 1896, he sold his shop and 
tools to Thomas Thompson, since which 
time he has lived a retired life. 

In December, 1839, Mr. Wood married 
Miss Jeannette King, a native of Scotland, 
born in 1800, and a daughter of Adam I\ing. 
She died at De Kalb, Illinois, in 1858, in 
her fifty-ninth year. For his second wife, 
in December, 1859, Mr. Wood married 
Flora Bennett, a native of Ireland, born at 
Sanfield, in 1823, and a daughter of John 
and Elizabeth McKee, who emigrated to 
Canada, in an early day, where the father 
died. Subsequently the mother and chil- 
dren removed to the United States, locating 
in De Kalb, where Mrs. McKee died April 
24, 1875, at the age of eighty-five years. 
By this second union four children were 
born: Jennie, born February 7, i860; Rob- 
ert, born May 27, i 861, died in 1878; Belle, 
born April 21, 1863; and Joseph, July 7, 
1865. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members 
of the Congregational church and are con- 
scientious people, having many friends in 
De Kalb. 



EDWIN P. SMITH, a retired farmer, re- 
siding in the city of Sycamore, is a 
native of De Kalb county, born in Mayfield 
township, January 19, 1843. His father; 
Spafford S.nith, was born in Windsor, Ver- 
mont, May 18, i8og. He remained under 
the parental roof until seventeen years of 
age, when he left home to learn the carpen- 
ter's trade. He married Eliza Sholes, June 
9, 1835, and four years later came to De 
Kalb county. She was the daughter of 
Prentiss Sholes, of Clearmont, New Hamp- 
shire, who was ^ farmer by occupation and 



'3« 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



who died in his native state. On his arrival 
in De Kalb count}', Spafford Smith stopped 
for a tune in Sycamore, which then com- 
prised Init \L'r\' few houses, and he was only 
able to get one room in the city hijtel. At 
tiiat time there were six families doing like- 
wise. He worked as a carpenter on the 
hotel antl other buildings until the following 
spring, wiieii he moved to his farm in May- 
tield township, and for several years li\'ei.l 
in a log house. Chicago, si.\ts' miles away, 
was his tradmg point. For some \ ears 
after his arrival Shabbona, w itli his tribe 
ol Indians, were often seen in the \icinitv. 
For thirty years he lived upon his farm in 
Mayfield township, but in 1870 moved to 
the city of Sycamore, where the remainder 
of his life was spent He became a \er\' 
prospert)us man, and at one time was the 
owner of four farms, two of two hundred 
and sixty acres, one of one hundred and 
eighty-three acres, and one of three hundred 
and ten acres. His death occurred in 1895, 
at the age of eighty-six years. He came of 
a long-lived family. His father served in 
the war of t8i2. The grandfather was 
twice married, Spafford and Curtis Smith, 
who came west together, being children b\ 
the second wife. A half-brother of Spafford 
heard of the latter living in Sycamore, 
through a gentleman from that cit\' travel- 
ing on a train in the west. He wrote to 
him and visited with him in 1889, after a 
separation of seventy years. The mother 
of our subject, who was born in 1800. died 
January 31, 1881. 

Edwin P. Smith, our subject, was reared 
in his native township, and there resided 
until 1892, a period of forty-nine years. 
He attended the district school until the 
age of twenty years, and spent two years 
ij) the schools of Sycamore and one year 



in a private school. He remained with 
his father until the age of twenty-six years, 
when he married and took charge of the 
old farm, his parents shortly after mo\ - 
ing t<j Sscamore. .\fter operating the farm 
for some years, his father gave to him a 
deed to the ^ilace, retaining an annuit}' lor 
life. He was married on the 6th of January, 
1870, in Ma}fieli] township, to Miss Flora 
M. joiner, a native oi that township, and 
tiftli in a family oi six chiklren born to 
Cyrus S. and Elmira (L\on ) Joiner, the for- 
mer a native of \\'olcott, \\'a\ne county. 
New \'ork, born Ootober 5, 1813. and who 
at the age of sixteen went to .Allegany 
county. New York, but who was married in 
Chautaucjua county, that state, .April 24, 
1836. He came to l)e Kalb county in 1837, 
and located in Mayfield township, becoming 
one of its pioneer citizens. By this tmion 
one son was born, Albert P., born on the 
farm November 8, 1870, and who now lives 
in Denver, Colorado, where he is engaged 
in the coal, v\'ood and ice business. He is 
a fine amateur photographer, and is also 
very skillful with fine tools, and being quite 
artistic, he has manufactured for his own 
family and friends a number of pieces of fine 
inlaid work. He built a large hall clock of 
walnut, inlaid with beautiful figures of white 
wood. It is a small clock, and as fine as 
anything that ever came from Switzerland. 
His education was obtained at Lombard 
University, Galesburg, Illinois, from which 
he was graduated in 1894, and the following 
year took up his residence in Denver. He 
is a member of the Universalist church. 

In politics our subject is a Republican, 
and has served as road commissioner and 
school director. He is a substantial farmer 
and good business man, and has three hun- 
dred and ten acres in Mayfield township. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



139 



which is well improved in every respect. 
Both he and his wife come from fine old 
New England families, dating back in colo- 
nial days. As a citizen he is enterprising, 
and is ever ready to do his part in promot- 
ing tlie material interests of his native 
county and state. 



GEORGE N. LUCAS, M. D. , is a well- 
known physician and surgeon of Malta, 
Illinois. There is no profession or calling 
more sacred than that of the physician. He 
stands on the threshold of time and ushers 
man into the world; he assists him in the 
observance of nature's laws all through life, 
and, at its close, helps him down the steep 
declivity, smoothing his pathway and mak- 
ing his e.\it easy, as he again passes back to 
the unknown. The man who proclaims a 
written law is no higher or holier than he who 
teaches the observance of the unwritten law 
of the Almighty. We revere the learned and 
eloquent divine, but no less the experienced 
and cultured physician. Whatever art or 
profession aids humanity to he true to itself 
and the laws of nature, that takes up the 
brittle and often shattered threads of life, 
making it to perforni its proper functions, 
is noble, philanthropic, divine. It is with 
pleasure, therefore, that we write the sketch 
of Dr. George N. Lucas, a man who is self- 
made in the true sense of the term. 

Dr. I..ucas was born at Quaker Hill, In- 
diana, March 25, i860, and is the son of 
George and Emily (Henderson) Lucas, the 
firmer a native of Uniontown, Pennsylva- 
nia, and the latter of Quaker Hill, Indiana. 
Shortly after the birth of our subject, they 
removed from Quaker Hill, Indiana, to 
Texas, where the husband and father died, 
gt the age of twenty- four years, when 



George was but six months old. After the 
death of her husband, Mrs. Lucas returned 
to Indiana, where, later, she was again 
married, but died in 1871. This advent 
threw the boy on the world without the 
protecting influence of a mother's love, the 
ties of which are often tested, but never 
broken, for "No love like mother's love 
ever was known." Mrs. Lucas was reared 
among those peace-loving people known as 
Friends, whose habits of life are proverbial 
for their strictness in those christian princi- 
ples upon which rest true manhood. She 
was known and respected for her true 
worth, upright character and pure life. 

After the death of his mother, our sub- 
ject went to the home of his grandfather, 
Henry Lucas, at Whitestown, Boone coun- 
ty, Indiana, where he remaiued until 1874. 
The panic of 1873 proving ruinous to his 
grandfather's business, at the age of four- 
teen he was thrown entirely upon his own re- 
sources, and at once saw the necessity of 
striking out in life for himself. For the 
space of ten years he worked at various vo- 
cations in various places, as any boy would 
under similar circumstances. All this time, 
however, he was looking to the develop- 
ment of the intellectual man by attending 
school at every opportunit}'. Up to the 
time he attained his majorit}' the most of 
his schooling was received in Boone and 
Putnam counties, Indiana. He then en- 
tered the high school at Lebanon, Indiana, 
where he spent some time in fitting himself 
for future usefulness. In 1874 he removed 
to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was em- 
ployed in the Hospital for the Insane, but 
on account of the treatment of patients, 
which did not agree with his tastes, he 
abandoned the situation. He next repaired 
to Elgin, Illinois, where, through high infin- 



I4(> THp, BIOC.RAPHICAL RECORD. 

ence. he ubtained ;i similar situation, dur- ninety-eight jeais, while the mother died 

ing which time he served also as attendant in 1856, at the age of ninety-two years, 

and assistant supervisor, and also as night Leonard Aurner removed from Michi- 

watchman At the expiration of three igan to Illinois, in 183S, locating on section 

years he obtained a position in the watch 22, Kingston township. He purchased one 

factory where he remained for fi\e years. hinulreil and sixty acres of a Mr. Ta\lor, nf 

Turning his attention to higher attainments, C'liicago, and to this he added at various 

after mature thought and deliberate consid- times until he had some five hmidred acres 

eration, he entered the College of Phy- of excellent farming land. Some of this he 

sicians and Surgeons, in the L'niversity of has since sold, and some has been given to 

Illinois, at Chicago, from which institution his children. He was appointed the first 

he was graduated with honors in 1895. trustee of the Hrst school taught in this dis- 

On March 25, 1888, Dr Lucas was trict, which was in 1840, Miss Harriet Rus- 

united ill marriage with Miss Lucy E. sell ofliciating. 

131ackl)iirii, daughter of Frank and Eliza Mr. .Vurner was lirst niarrie<i in St. fo- 

Blackbiirn, of Manchester, Illinois, and by sephcoimt\, Michigan, in 1836, to .Miss Mar- 

this unicMi two sons have been born, Frank garet W. Dibble, a daughter of James antl 

in i8yo, and Edwin in i8y2. Mrs. Lucas Dolly Dibble, and to this union was born 

was born at Murrayville, Illinois, March 30. nine children, seven of whom are \et living: 

1866. Orlando J., Eliza C. , Wiliiain R., Harriet 

Immediately after his graduation. Dr. L. . Charles L, Joseph F. and Marquis D. 

Lucas established himself at Malta, where .Mrs. .Aurner died in De Kalb county, Sep- 

he has now a large and increasing practice. tember 26, 1864, at the age of fifty-two 

He possesses these social qualities which \ears. She was born in Delaware county, 

mark the successful man. His conversa- New York, .\ugust 13, 1812, and wasatrue 

tional powers are good with enough of hii- helpmeet to her hnsbaiul. b'or his second 

mor to make him a genial companion. wife Mr. .\urner married a Mrs. Snyder, 

of Sycamore, and for his third a Mrs. Burg- 
heart, of De Kalb. By the last two mar- 
riages there are no children. Both are now 

LEON.\RD .\LRN'EK, agriculturist, re- deceased, 

siding on section 22, Kingston township, Mr. .\urner has lived an hi:)nest ,ind iip- 

is one of the pioneers ol this section whose right life, respected aiul honored among all 

name and history is well known all over De men, and dealing squarely with whome\er 

Kalb county. He was born in .Armstrong he came in contact. His experience in the 

county, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1810, and is count}' has been varied and interesting, and 

the son of Henry and Elizabeth Aurner, he is truly the architect of his own fortune, 

both natives of Pennsylvania, and who re- He has been a Republican since the organi- 

moved to De Kalb county, Illinois, some zation of the partv and has filled manv 

time later than their son Leonard. Leon- offices of honor and trust to the entire satis- 

and Aurner justly comes of his good old faction of all concerneii. When younger 

age, his f.ither dying in 1S52, at the age of he was engaged in the mercantile business 




LEONARD AURNER, 

Aged 88 Years. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



143 



in Chapnianville for a number of years, but 
of late has been living <]uietly under the 
roof which has sheltered him so long. 

His daughter, Harriet L. , was born in 
Kingston township, February 8, 1846, and 
m 1866 was united in marriage with S. 
Keppel, of Kingston, and to them si.\ chil- 
dren were born, three of whom are now liv- 
ing: Minnie A., born at Kingston, February 
21, 1872; John M., April 27, 1876; and 
Lida B., November 16, 1880. They re- 
moved in 1866, to Topeka, Kansas, but 
subsequently removed to Montgomery coun- 
ty, that state, where Mr. Keppel founded 
the town of Elk City, and where he was a 
very prominent merchant. He was obliged 
on account of failing health to abandon the 
mercantile business, and went to Miles City, 
Montana, in an effort to regain waning 
health, but it was in vain, and at that place, 
April 5, 1887, he passed away to the better 
home. 

On December 25, 1888, Mrs. Keppel 
was joined in wedlock with T. A. Shorey, 
a farmer, whose demise occurred May 17, 
1890. Shortly after this bereavement, Mrs. 
Shorey sold out her interest in the property 
and came to Kingston, where she has since 
remained under the old roof which protected 
her in days of yore. Her daughter, Minnie 
A., was united in marriage to C. C. Smith, 
January 7, 1895, and to them three children 
have been born, Harland L., Helen C. and 
Fay. 



CHAUNCY H. WILDER, M. D.— There 
can be no greater honor conferred upon 
man than the title of M. D. Trained must 
be his nerve, tender and delicate his touch, 
deep must be his study and wide must be 
his range of thought and knowledge to 



acquire it. There is no more responsible 
position or profession than that of the physi- 
cian, the man who aids dame nature in 
weavmg together the brittle and often shat- 
tered strands of the thread of life. If true 
to his calling, he must be in love with his 
profession. He must be as much in har- 
mony with the eternal laws of ]ehovah as 
the man who proclaims from the sacred 
desk the oracles of the almighty. Dr. 
Wilder is yet a young man, but he has that 
true love for the profession that should 
animate the hearts of all engaged in it. He 
is a native of Independence, Missouri, born 
October 21, 1865, and is the son of Chauncy 
H. and Elizabeth (Hurlbert) Wilder, the 
former a native of Vermont and the latter 
of Illinois. 

Chauncy H. Wilder, Sr. , the father of 
our subject, was a man of natural and 
acquired abilities. While residing in Ver- 
mont, he was postmaster of his native town 
for several years. In 1844, he accom- 
panied his father, Oliver Wilder, to Win- 
nebago county, Illinois, where the family 
resided until May, [863, when Oliver 
Wilder passed to his reward. His wife fol- 
lowed him just two years later, in May, 1865. 
Oliver Wilder was a prosperous farmer, and 
was loyal to his country, ser\ing it faithfully 
and well in the war of 181 2 with Great 
Britain. The father of Oliver was Ransom 
Wilder, a native of Massachusetts, and a 
brave soldier in the Revolutionary war. He 
was a direct descendant of one of three 
brothers who emigrated from England, with 
a widowed mother, Martha Wilder, who 
landed in Massachusetts bay in 1638 and 
from whom it is supposed all the Wilders 
in the United States descended. One of the 
family was made a baron in 1497 by Henry 
VH, who gave him a land grant. After the 



144 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



death of his parents, Chauncy H. Wilder, 
Sr., removed from Winnebago county, Illi- 
nois, to Independence, Missouri, where he 
soon contracted a disease which resulted in 
his de;ith in 1868. After his death his 
widow with her family of little ones re- 
turned to their old home in Winnebago 
county, Illinois, where Martin \'. B. Wilder 
then resided, and where she died the same 
year. The family consisted of eight chil- 
dren, si.\ of whom are now living, Chauncy 
H. being the youngest. 

Dr. Wilder was only two years of age 
when his parents died. His uncle, Martin 
\'. B. Wilder, then adopted him into hi.s 
own family, where he shared alike with the 
children of his adopted father. In this 
home in the city of De Kalb, Illinois, the 
Doctor received his first training, and in the 
public schools of the city received his edu- 
cation, assisting at odd times his foster 
father, who was one of De Kalb's proini- 
nent merchants. He assisted in the store 
and attended school until he reached his 
twenty-tirst year. In 1886. he removed to 
California, where one of his brothers re- 
sided. He there remained three years, dur- 
ing which time he was employed as a clerk 
and in mercantile business. In 1890, he 
returned to De Kalb, where he engaged as 
a clerk for the tirm of Oleson Wilder, 
with whom he remained one year, after 
which he went to Chicago and began the 
study of medicine under Dr. James A. 
Clark, formerly of De Kalb, of the College 
of Physicians and Surgeons, and where he 
remained four years, three years of which 
time he held the position of house surgeon, 
which opened up to his mind a large and, 
as yet to him, an unexplored field of science. 
His experience there was varied, but all the 
time his education and training were ripen- 



ing. He firmly believed in the sentiment 
embodied in the words of Bryant, when he 
said: 

" Keep pushing; 'tis better than sitting aside, 
.\nil .sighing anil watching and waiting the tide. 
In life's earnest battles, they only prevail, 
Willi daily march forward, and never say fail." 

After four years of hard and earnest 
study, he graduated with high honors, re- 
turned to De Kalb, in 1895, and began the 
practice of inedicine in his home town. 
While in California, the Doctor was united 
in marriage with Miss Adalla Aplin, a na- 
tive of Little York, California, born Decem- 
ber 9, 1865, and a daughter of Dr. William 
D. and Mary L. Aplin. The marriage cer- 
emony was celebrated August 6, 1889. 
They have one child, born September 2, 
1895. 

Dr. Aplin, the father of Mrs. Wilder, is 
a graduate of the Royal College of Surgery, 
of Manchester, England, and was in the 
einploy of the English government previous 
to his coming to this country, in about 
1852. For a time he resided in Rhode 
Island, where he held a position as chemist. 
On his removal to California he was em- 
ployed by mining companies as assayist and 
chemist, and finally went into the mining 
business himself. He has, however, aban- 
doned the mining business, but for his 
health's sake still makes his home in Cali- 
fornia. 

Martin Van Buren Wilder, whose name 
has been mentioned in this sketch, is 
worthy of a more extended notice. He 
was born in Jericho, Vermont, in 1836, 
and was a brother to Chauncy H. Wilder, 
Sr. , the father of our subject. In 1844 he 
came with his parents to Illinois, and in 
[857 went to Nebraska, where he engaged 
in mining. In i860 he went to Colorado, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



H5 



and from there to New Mexico, where he 
was Hving at the outbreak of the Civil war. 
Stirred by a spirit of patriotism, he enHsted 
in Company F, Fourth New Mexico Volun- 
teer Infantry, which was subsequently 
transferred to the Second New Mexico Ca\- 
alry. He served all through the war and 
was honorably discharged in 1865, after 
spending eight years of cainp life in various 
parts of the south and west. After the 
close of the war he moved to De Kalb, Illi- 
nois, and engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness, in which he continued until his death, 
in 1894. In 1864 he married Miss Clara 
Whitmore, who, with her three daughters, 
survive him. 

Dr. Wilder is an inveterate relic hunter, 
and has in his possession fifty different pat- 
terns of pistols, eleven kinds of muskets, 
some of which were used in the Revolu- 
tionary war, others in the Fenian raid, and 
some in the Rebellion. Besides these he 
has knives, daggers, stilettoes and other 
curiosities. Each relic has its own history, 
and the affable Doctor takes delight in ex- 
plaining in detail each in its order. The 
old Wilder home in Hingham, Massachu- 
setts, has remained unchanged for two 
centuries. The Doctor has a large and in- 
creasing practice, and his office and labora- 
tory are supplied with all the latest appli- 
ances. 



LEWIS FAMES, who resides on section 
17, Milan township, and whose post- 
office is Lee, Lee county, Illinois, owns 
and operates a farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres of well improved land. He is a 
native of Norway, born near the city of 
Stavanger, March 19, 1848, and is the son 
of Ole Eames, also a native of Norsvay, born 



in the same section, and a grandson of Ole 
Eames, Sr. , who was a well-to-do farmer of 
Norway. Ole Eames, Jr., grew to man- 
hood in his native country, and there mar- 
ried Anna Turena Eames Goodmans, also 
a native of that country. By occupation 
Ole Eames was a farmer, and also was a 
dealer in cattle in his native country. He 
there raised his family and spent his entire 
life; dying when our subject was but nine 
years of age. Of their family (ff nine chil- 
dren, all grew to mature years, and of that 
number four sons and two daughters are yet 
living. 

Lewis Eames remained on the old home- 
stead until eighteen years of age, when he 
emigrated to the United States, accompan- 
ied by his brothers, Soren and Andrew, and 
sister, Hannah. His brother, Soren, had 
made a visit in i860, and made a location 
in La Salle county, Illinois. To that coun- 
ty the brothers all went on their arrival in 
this country, and there our subject com- 
menced work for Ezekiel Howland, at 
Prairie Center, and continued with him 
three years. He then went to Champaign 
county, rented land for a time and then pur- 
chased a farm near Urbana, which he sold 
— and lived on rented land some six years. 
In 1873 he came to De Kalb county, re- 
turned home, and selling out, again came 
to this county and purchased one hundred 
and sixty acres where he now resides. 
While the place was partially improved, he 
has since added greatly to its appearance 
by settinj; out an orchard and planting 
shade and ornamental trees and otherwise 
improving the place. 

Mr. Eames was married in De Kalb 
county, March 10, 1875, to Martha Peter- 
son, a native of De Kalb county, reared in 
Paw Paw township, and a daughter of 



146 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Peter Peterson, one of the first settlers in 
tfie western part of the county. By this 
union there are nine children, eight of 
wlioni are yet living as follows: Orrin 
.Augustus, Peter Immanuel, Mabel Sophia, 
Leonard .Mertin. Ir\ing Silas, Lester Mer- 
tin, N'erna Ivuth, Ethel Agnes and Clarion 
Obed. All are living e.xcept Leonard Mer- 
tin, who died at the age of three years and 
ti\e months. Orrin A. is a stenographer 
and is etnployed in Chicago. Mabel S. is 
now in Houston, Texas, taking lessons in 
music and also in elocution. The remamder 
of the children are at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eaines are members uf the 
Lutheran church, in which he is one of the 
official members, and for some 3ears has 
served as a deacon. Politically he is a Re- 
publican, and has given his support to that 
party since becoming a citizen of this coun- 
try. He was elected and is now serving 
as commissioner of highways. For some 
years he served as a member of the school 
board, giving much of his time to the ad- 
vancement of the public schools. He has 
always manifested more or less interest in 
political affairs, and has been elected as a 
delegate to the conventions of his party. 
He is a well known citizen of Milan town- 
ship, and is held in the highest esteem. 



PATRICK A. McGIRR, who resides upon 
section 29, Afton township, is a repre- 
sentative farmer, one who has had lifelong 
experience in agricultural pursuits. He is a 
native of Alton township, born September 
23, 1862, and is the son of John and Mary 
(Powers) McGirr, of whom further mention 
is made in the sketch ot John McGirr, to 
be found elsewhere in this volume. In the 
district schools of Afton township our sub- 



ject received his primary education, which 
was supplemented by attending the schools 
of De Kalb and Chicago. For some years 
he has been engaged in the grain business 
at Carlton, Illinois, and also in the general 
mercantile trade, a business in which he has 
been very successful, his trade extending 
for many miles around. In 1897 he was 
appointed postmaster of the place and is 
still serving in that capacity to the satisfac- 
tion of all concerned. 

On the 14th of February, 1893, Mr. 
McGirr was united in marriage with Miss 
Ellen Minnehan, a native of Afton town- 
ship, and a daughter of Dennis and Marga- 
ret (Foy) Minnehan, who were natives of 
Ireland, and who are the parents of seven 
children. By this union there are two chil- 
dren, Gertrude, born November 18, 1893, 
and Margaret, born May 19, 1896. Fra- 
ternally Mr. McGirr is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen 
of America. In politics he is a Democrat, 
having abiding faith in the principles of that 
party. He has never sought nor desired 
public office, but has served as assessor of 
his township, an office which he was well 
qualified to fill. Success has crowned his 
efforts in everything that he has undertaken, 
and in addition to his stock of general mer- 
chandise and means invested in grain busi- 
ness, he has two hundred and forty acres 
of valuable land, and is numbered among 
the well-to-do and progressive citizens of 
the township. 



JOHN WALKER, deceased, was for years 
one of the leading farmers of Malta 
township, and one of the worthy citizens of 
Lee county prior to his removal to De Kalb 
county, honest and upright in ever\' respect 



THE BIOGRAPHKAI. KECOKD. 



M7 



He was a native of Scotland, born in Bute- 
shire, August 28, 1 8 14, and was the son of 
William and Jeannette Walker, both of 
whom were also natives of Scotland. The 
life of a farmer in Scotland afforded no 
chance for advancement. One could not 
add to his material wealth, and a bare liv- 
ing was about all that could be obtained. 
Because of this fact, our subject determined 
to come to the New World, and in 1845 he 
left his native land, and came directly to Illi- 
nois, locating in St. Charles, Kane county. 
After residing there a few years, he sent for 
his father's family, who joined him at that 
place. They purchased a farm near St. 
Charles, but account of reverses abandoned 
it, and in 1862 removed to Lee county, Illi- 
nois, where they purchased a quarter-sec- 
tion of wild prairie land. In course of time 
this became very valuable under their joint 
efforts, and two more quarter sections were 
added, which were later disposed of. 

On the 24th of No\'ember, 1843, Mr. 
Walker was united in marriage with Mi?s 
Flora S. McNeil, who bore him thirteen 
children, nine of whom are yet living — Mary 
C, Jeannette P., William G., John M., 
Charles A., Joseph H., Flora J., Emma B., 
Henry A. and Belle S. Mrs. Walker was 
born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1825, and 
she was there married to Mr. Walker, and 
they spent three years of their wedded life 
in their native land, before coming to this 
country. She lived in sight of the farm 
upon which Robert Burns lived and worked, 
and often visited the cottage in which the 
great Scotch poet was born. Mrs. Walker 
is a woman of rare natural ability, alive to 
every good word and work. 

Mr. Walker was a man highly esteemed 
by his fellow citizens, who elected him to 
all the offices of the township, which he 



filled with credit to himself and friends. He 
was a member of the Congregational church, 
and served eight years as deacon of the 
church in Creston, Illinois. The family are 
also members of the Congregational church. 
His death occurred October 31, 1893, in his 
seventj'-ninth year. His friends were manj' 
throughout Kane, Lee and De Kalb coun- 
ties, and all held him in the highest respect. 



ALEXANDER RENNIE COURT is a 
retired farmer now residing in the city 
of Sycamore. He was born in Henderson 
township, Jefferson county. New York, March 
10, 1848. His great-grandfather, John 
Court, was a native of London, England, 
where his entire life was spent. He mar- 
ried a Miss Gibson, and died at the age of 
ninety years. His son, Henry Court, Sr. , 
also a native of London, England, came to 
.\merica, with his familj', in 1836, sailing 
from London, in the ship Philadelphia, be- 
ing forty-four days cii route, and landing in 
New "\'ork. His son, Henry ("ourt, Jr., the 
father of our subject, was born in London, 
England, July 7, 1823, and came to the 
United States with his parents at the age 6f 
thirteen years. He grew to manhood in 
Jefferson county. New York, and at Ant- 
werp, married Lovira Cross, a native of 
Jefferson county. New York, and a daughter 
of Enoch and Betsey (Britton) Cross, the 
former a native of Keene, New Hampshire. 
They became the parents of four children, 
of whom our subject is second in order of 
birth. 

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- 
hood and youth in Jefferson county, New- 
York, on the old farm on Henderson Bay, 
near Sacketts Harbor. His time was spent 
principall}- on water, sailing, bathing and 



148 



'HK HIOC.RAPHICAI. RIXORD. 



fishing. Ill 1865, he came to Ue Kalb coun- 
t)', Illinois, with his parents, who settled in 
Sycamore township. His education, began 
in his native county, was finished with three 
terms in the Sycamore schools. At the age 
of twenty-one he began farming on shares 
with his father. He married at the age of 
twenty-four, and soon after rented a farm 
near Charter Grove, which he operated for 
four years. In P"ebruary, 1876, he went to 
Story count}-, Iowa, with two thousand 
eight Inmdred dollars in cash, and purchased 
one hundred acres of prairie and six acres 
of tiinlier laixi. In two years he saw clearly 
that he could do better in De Kalb county, 
as he was paying ten per cent, interest on 
borrowed money to carry on the place. 
What with poor crops, stock that he lost, 
and hard times generally, he felt thatit was 
for his interest to return, and coming back 
he v\orked one year for his father-in-law, 
then rented the John Woolsey farm, on 
which he remained for thirteen years. He 
then retired and came to Sycamore, bu}ing 
his present residence in the winter of 1S93, 
since which time he has followed carpenter- 
ing and painting when work came to his 
hand. 

Mr. Court was married December 31, 
1 87 1, to Miss .\nn B. Dean, born in Never- 
sink, Sullivan county. New York, and a 
daughter of Moses Dean, a native of the 
same place, born January 27, 181 5, and who 
came west in 1856. In his native state 
Moses Dean followed the vocation of a 
farmer, taught school and kept a ta\ern. 
He acquired considerable property, some of 
which he rented. His emigration to the 
west was not until after the building of the 
railroad, and the journeys that required of 
the pioneers some weeks to make only re- 
quired of him about two days. On arriving 



in De Kalb county he settled in Charter 
Grove, where he purchased a farm and be- 
gan a prosperous career. He was a thrifty 
man, a good manager, acquired more land, 
loaned money and was regarded as one of 
the best financiers in the county. Moses 
Dean was a son of Solomon Dean, a native 
of England, settled near Hartford, Connect- 
icut, prior to the Revolutionary war, and 
who died at the age of one hundred and four 
years. His son. Solomon, born near Hart- 
ford, Connecticut, served through the Revolu- 
tionarj' war as a colonel under Washington. 
.■\fter the war he married Elizabeth Brown, 
by whom he had two daughters and one son. 
The latter, Reuben Dean, moved to Never- 
sink. New York, where he died December 
16, 1845, ^^ the age of si.xty-one years. A 
patriot like his father, he served in the war 
of 18 1 2. Reuben Dean married Elizabeth 
Devine, a daughter of Eleazer Devine; and 
they became the parents of Moses Dean, the 
father of Mrs. Court. Moses Dean married 
Rachel Evans, a daughter of George and 
Mary (Eller) Evans. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Court five children 
have been born — Eliza. Henry A., Albert, 
Moses A. and Delia Elizabeth. Of these 
Eliza died at the age of thirteen months 
and Albert in infancy. Mrs. Court is a 
member of the Universalist church, which 
Mr. Court also attends. 



SEPTIMUS STOREY has been a resi- 
dent of DeKalb county since the fall of 
1852. He was born in Harthill, Yorkshire. 
England, February 10, 1829, and grew to 
mature years in his native county, where he 
received a limited education, and in his boy- 
hood worked for a time in the manufacture 
of nails. His father, Harnabee Story, was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



149 



also a native of Yorkshire, England, as was 
his father before him. For se\'eral genera- 
tions the male members of the family en- 
gaged in nail making. Barnabee Story mar- 
ried Sarah Widdeson, a native of Derby- 
shire, England, and their entire lives were 
spent in their native country. 

The subject of this sketch came to the 
United States in 1850, in company with 
Joseph Billam and William Cutts, both 
young men. They took ship at Liverpool, 
and were about twenty-four days in making 
the voyage, enconntering in that time one 
severe storm, which damaged the sails of the 
ship to some extent. On arriving in New 
York Mr. Storey went up the Hudson to 
Albany, thence by rail to Buffalo, and the 
lakes to Chicago. From Chicago he went 
to Kendall county, where he joined some 
English friends and commenced work on a 
farm at ten dollars per month, continuing 
to be thus employed for one year. The 
ne.xt year he rented some land in Big Grove 
township, Kendall county, and secured one 
crop. In the fall of iS^i he came to De 
Kalb county, and purchased forty acres of 
land. Three of his friends owned one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, and they worked 
together to improve the tract, continuing 
thus engaged for two years. Mr. Storey 
then bought the share of William Cutts on 
section 17, to which he removed and erected 
a small frame house, in which he lived while 
developing the farm. He later bought 
eighty acres adjoining, which had been 
somewhat improved, and in due time built 
a larger residence, two good barns, tiled the 
place and enclosed a part of the barn with 
a fine hedge fence. From time to time he 
added to his possessions until he now owns 
six hundred and forty acres in one body. 
He previously owned one hundred and sixty 



acres nearby, which he sold to his son. 
Up to 1894 he was actively engaged in 
farniin.t; and was recognized as one of the 
most enterprising farmers of the township, 
as well as a large breeder and dealer in 
shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. 
In 1894 he moved to Shabbona, after having 
erected one of the best residences in the 
place, and has since lived a retired life. 

Mr. Storey was married in De Kalb 
county, December 2;;, 1856, to Miss Mary 
Mullen, a native of Derbyshire, England, 
who came to the United States a child of 
thirteen years, and a daughter of Robert 
and Sarah (Uyllett) Mullen, who were among 
the early settlers of Shabbona township, De 
Kalb county. By this union there are seven 
children, five sons and two daughters. John 
L. , Charles E. and William H. are each 
engaged in farming in Shabbona township. 
George T. is one of the leading merchants 
of the village of Shabbona. De Forrest L. 
is with his brother, William H., engaged in 
farming on the old homestead. Sarah E. 
is the wife of Harvey Green, a farmer of 
Scranton township. Green county, Iowa. 
Lilly M. yet remains at home. They lost 
two children, Robert M. and Anna M. both 
dying when about three years of age. 

Politically Mr. Storey is a stanch Re- 
publican, his first presidential ballot being 
cast for Abraham Lincoln, in i860. He 
was elected and served as a member of the 
school-board for sixteen years, three 3ears 
as road commissioner, and five years, at 
different times, as supervisor. While a 
member of the county board he served on 
the personal property committee, and of 
highways and printing, being chairman of 
the latter committee. Since moving to 
Shabbona, he served two years as a member 
of the village trustees. In every position 



I so 



THE BIOGKAI'TIICAL KICCORD. 



to which he has been elected he has dis- 
charged the duties in a faithful and efficient 
manner. In the various conventions of his 
party, county, district and state, he has 
often served as a delegate. 

Mr. and Mrs. Storey are members of the 
WestShabbona Methodist Episcopal church, 
of which Mr. Storey has officially served for 
many years. For almost half a century Mr. 
Storey has been a resident of Illinois, forty- 
eight years of which time a resident of De 
Kalb county. Coming to this county a poor 
man. by his industry and thrifty habits he has 
become independent financially, and can 
well afford to take a well-earned rest, know- 
ing that he has the esteem and confidence 
of the entire communitv in which he has 
resided so man\' \'ears. 



EDWAI'il) M. BURST, the present city 
attorney oi Sycamore, is a native of 
the city, born January i, 1872. He here 
grew tu manhood, and in its public schools 
received his literary education. Early evinc- 
ing a desire to make the legal profession his 
life work, in 1890, he entered the law de- 
partment of the Michigan University at Ann 
Arbor, from which he was graduated in 
fune, 1892, with the degree of LL. B., and 
was admitted to practice the same year, in 
the courts of Michigan. In 1893, he en- 
tered the law office of Caldwell & Pierson, 
of Chicago, where he remained about one 
year, and then returned to .Sycamore, 
(;pened an office in the room occupied by 
Judge L. Lowell, and began the practice of 
his profession. His professional qualities 
attracted the attention of the people of the 
city, and in 1895 he was elected to serve 
them as city attornej', and was re-elected 
in 1897. While in politics he is a Repub- 



lican, he was elected the first term by the 
independent voters and to the second term 
on the citizens ticket. In 1892, he was one 
of the delegates from Illinois to the Na- 
tional Republican League, held at Buffalo, 
New York. 

John W. Burst, the father of our sub- 
ject, \\as born in Delaware county, New 
York. He is a veteran of the Civil war, 
and is held in high regard b\- his fellow 
comrades. 

Captain Burst was one of the earliest to 
jom the G. A. R., having been mustered 
into Ransom Post, Chicago, in 1866. He 
was transferred to the post in Sycamore, 
Illinois, in 1874, and was its commander for 
several years. He was very active in build- 
ing up the order in Illinois, and besides 
holding many subordinate positions was 
senior vice-commander, and commander of 
the department. He served for several years 
on the G. A. R. National Pension Commit- 
tee, and did effective work in the formula- 
tion and passage of the disability bill. He 
has been three times the candidate of the 
department of Illinois for commander-in- 
chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
His appointment by Commander-in-Chief 
Lawler as quartermaster-general met the 
enthusiastic approval of thousands of per- 
sonal friends among the comrades. 

During the campaign of 1896, Captain 
Burst was a part of the aggregation made 
up of crippled veterans of the war for the 
union that made a tour of the country in 
the interest of the Republican part}-. In 
the party were Generals Sickles, Howard, 
Stewart, Corporal Tanner and others. Soon 
after his election President McKinley ap- 
pointed Captain Burst United States im- 
migration inspector, with headquarters at 
Chicago, v\'hich position he now holds. 




EDWARD M. BURST. 



THE BIOCRAPinCAL KF.COKD. 



Captain Burst mnrried Lattice Mavo, a 
daughter of Hon. Edward L. and Emily 
(Holden) Mayo. Her father settled at Syca- 
more, Illinois, in 1841, and for many years 
was the acknowledged leader of the bar of 
De Kalb county. As a lawyer and a man, 
he was prominently identified with its earl)' 
history. He was born in Moretown, Wash- 
ino;ton county, Vermont, in 1S07, and wiiile 
his advantages in early life were limited, he 
obtained a fair education. His friends tried 
to persuade him to enter the ministry, but 
he chose the lnw, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1S35. He was twice niMrried. Ins 
first wife being Miss Lettice Ann Holden, 
who died shorti}' afterward, when in Sep- 
tember, I S40, he married Miss I'Imily Hold- 
en, her cousin. In politics he was a Demo- 
crat, and in 1854 was the candidate of that 
party for congress, but was defeated, the 
district being strongly Republican. He was 
three times elected county judge, notwith- 
standing his politics, and the fact that he 
belonged to a party casting the minority 
vote. He was on intimate terms of friend- 
ship with the leading men of the state, 
among them being Stephen .\. Douglas, 
Judge John D. C'aton and Lyman Trunibull. 
After i860, he was a "war Democrat," in 
full sympathy with the union cause. His 
integrity and honor were never questioned. 
Possessed of a legal mind, it was among his 
legal brethren who knew him best and were 
best able to judge, that he was most appre- 
ciated. He died in De Kalb, November 16, 
1877. at the age of seventy years, leaving a 
widow and one son, Dr. E. L. Mayo, of De 
Kalb. and three daughters, Mrs. John W. 
Burst, of Sycamore; Mrs. T. E. Bagley, of 
Genoa; and Miss Kate Mayo, of De Kalb, 
surviving. To Captain and Mrs. Burst, 
three children were born — Edward M., the 



subject of this sketch; Bessie, wife of Henry 
\\'. Prentice, an attorney of De Kalb; and 
Bertha C. 

Edward M. Burst, the subject of this 
sketch, is an earnest and active member of 
the Republican party. In 1898 here-ar- 
ranged and revised the citv nrdinances. 
Fraternally he is a member ot the I'oresters, 
and in 1898 was elected chief ranger of 
Court Kish\\aukee of Sycatnore. He is a 
young man of tine character and future 
pronnse, and has already taken rank among 
the able members of the bar o( De Kalb 
conntw 



THOMAS M. HOPKINS was for many 
years one of the leading attorneys in 
De Kalb county. He was born in the town 
of Salem, Washington county. New York, 
.April 23, 1 818, and was the son of Hiram 
and Sarah (McClaryi Hopkins, also natives 
of the town of Salem. Hiram Hopkins was 
a man of considerable prominence in Salem, 
but with a view (jf bettering his condition 
in life, he came west and h^cated in Aurora, 
Illinois, in the early settlement of that place. 
Thomas M. Hopkins, our subject, was 
reared in his native town and educated in 
its public schools, completing his studies 
with three years at Washington .Academy. 
In 1835, when Init seventeen j'ears of age, 
he commenced the study of law, and Janu- 
ary, 1842, was admitted to the l)ar by the 
supreme court of the state, at .Albany, New 
York, Judge Samuel Nelson presiding. At 
Salem he began the practice of his profes- 
sion and there continued one year. In 1843 
he came to Illinois, and after spending one 
summer in this state, went to Missouri, 
where he resided until February. 1846, 
when he catiie to De Knlb count\' and en- 



•54 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tered a claim on section 13, De Kalb town- 
ship, afterward entering the same from the 
general government. He at once com- 
menced improving the land, erecting there- 
on a dwelling and necessary outbuildings 
and for some years engaged in general farm- 
ing. 

On the 23d of April, 1846, Mr. Hopkins 
was joined in marriage with Miss Julia .\. 
Ha\\ken, a daughter of Jacob Havvken, a 
native of Hagerstown, Maryland, from which 
place he removed with his family to St. 
Louis, Missouri, where the remainder of his 
life was passed, dying at the age of sixty 
years. His wife died when thirty-five years 
old. To Mr. and Mrs. Hopki.js five children 
were born. Montgomery, who is a farmer, 
was born October 16, 1847. Charles O., also 
a farmer by occupation, was born October 2, 
1849. Christopher M., born September i, 
1853, is a physician residing in Iowa. Alice 
C. (now Mrs. Bradt) was born December 
19, 1855. Jacob H., a leading attorney in 
Chicago, was born May 3, 1865. 

On first coming to the state Mr. Hopkins 
applied for admission to the bar of Illinois 
and was duly licensed to practice May 2, 
1843, by the supreme court of the state. 
Chief Justice Caton and Judge Richard M. 
Young presiding. On his return to the state 
in 1846, in connection with farming, he en- 
gaged in general practice. In 1865 he 
moved into the village of De Kalb, opened 
a law office and devoted his whole time to 
the legal profession. He was a man of 
marked gifts and powers, thoroughly versed 
in his profession. His familiarity with all 
the laws, rules and regulations of the va- 
rious courts enabled him to maintain a po- 
sition in the front ranks of his profession, 
and it was admitted by all that he was one 
of the best members of the bar in De Kalb 



county. His many clients bore testimony 
to his zeal and success in furthering their 
interests. Socially he was large-hearted 
and benevolent in the extreme. He passed 
away in 1888 at the age of seventy years, 
mourned by many friends and missed bv all. 



HH. HOPKINS, a representative busi- 
ness man of Hinck!e\' and De Kalb 
county, the supi-rintendent and manager of 
e.xtensive creameries in De Kalb, Ken lall. 
Ogle and Lee counties, has been a resident of 
the county since 1880 and of Hincklev 
since 1884. He is a nati\e of New Hamp- 
shire, born in Chesterfield, Cheshire county, 
July 2, 1 86 1, and is the son of R. Henry 
Hopkins, a native of the same state and 
county, who there grew to manhood and 
married Miss Ellen L. Newton. For many 
years he was one of the leading business 
men of his native town, and occupied a very 
prominent position in social, business and 
political affairs. For one or more terms he 
served as a member of the legislature, 
with credit to himself atid constituents. 
Fraternally he was a Mason. His death 
occurred in 1878, his wife passing away two 
years previously. They were the parents 
of five children as follows: Charles Barton, 
a business man of Hinsdale, New Hamp- 
shire; H. H., of this review; (leorge C , of 
Oregon, Illinois, who is interested in the 
creamery business with our subject. 

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- 
hood and youth in his native town, and in 
the high school of Hinsdale, New Hamp- 
shire, finished his education. He came to 
De Kalb county in 1880, and was employed 
by H. B. r.nrley, who operated a creamery 
on his farm near De Kalb, Illinois. While 
with Mr. fiurley he received a thorough and 



THii. iuoctRaphical record. 



'35 



practical knowledge of the creamer}' busi- 
ness, and in 1884 he formed a partnership 
with his employer, and under the firm name 
of Gurley & Hopkins, they purchased a 
creamery at Hinckley, which had been in 
operation some years, but was then run 
<lown and doing no business. Mr. Hopkins 
assumed the business management of the 
Hinckley concern, and at once commenced 
active operations. In due time the old ma- 
chinery was replaced with new, and the 
plant is now better supplied with improved 
machinery than any other in this section of 
the state. From time to time the firm 
added other plants, until they have now 
eight creameries in Lee, De Kalb and Ogle 
counties. They are all first class plants, 
and turn out dail}' about three thousand 
three hundred pounds of first class butter. 
Our subject has full charge of the business, 
and to him is due the great success of these 
creameries. 

Mr. Hopkins was married at De Kalb, 
Illinois, March 14, 1883, to Miss Frances 
E. Geiser, a native of Fonda, New York, 
but who was reared and educated in He 
Kali). 

Politirall\' Mr. Hopkins is a stanch Re- 
publican, an(J has been quite active in local 
politics, often serving as a delegate to the 
various conventions of his party. In the 
state convention of 1898, with others, he 
represented De Kalb county as a delegate. 
For some twelve years he served as a mem- 
ber of the town council, being one of its 
most active and influential men. He was 
interested in and helped organize the fire 
department, and has since been at the head 
of that organization. Fraternally he is a 
Mason, holding meinbershij") in the blue 
lodge at Hinckley, the chapter at Sandwich 
and the cominandery at .Aurora. In the 



work of the lodge he has taken special inter- 
est, and has served as worshipful master of 
the lodge at Hinckley. While a resident of 
the county but eighteen years, he has an 
extensive acquaintance in every part as well 
as in the surrounding counties. As a busi- 
ness man he is thoroughly enterprising, and 
is alive to every matter that will add to the 
growth and prosperity of his adopted county 
and state. 



T C DUNCAN, M. D. , is one of DeKalb's 
kJ prominent physicians and surgeons, be- 
ing a thorough e.xpert, both in the medical 
and surgical branches of his profession. His 
office is on F"ourth street, where he has in 
his service the latest and most improved 
medical and surgical appliances. He was 
born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, March 
3, 1851, and is the son of Thomas and Eliza 
(Cation) Duncan, both of whom were natives 
of Scotland, and who immigrated to this 
country in 1842, locating in New York, where 
they remained fi\e years In 1 847 they re- 
moved to Wisconsin, where they remained 
twenty-three years, going from thence to 
Iowa, where the succeeding ten years was 
spent. In 1880 they removed to Mendota, 
Illinois, where the remainder of their lives 
was spent. Eliza Duncan died in Decem- 
ber, 1890, in her seventy- third year, and 
Thomas Duncan, December 18, 1895, at the 
age of eighty-one years. 

The family of Thomas and Eliz.i Duncan 
consisted of nine children, seven sons and 
two daughters. Five of these sons are 
practicing physicians at the present time. 
Thomas C. Duncan, M. D., of Chicago, is 
also an author of some note, his volume on 
treatment of infants and children being a 
standard work, which shouKl not onlv be in 



156 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



every physician's library, but in every par- 
ent's home. David Duncan, M. D., is also 
a resident of Chicago. George B. Duncan, 
M. D., resides in Kewanee, Illinois, while J. 
C. Duncan, M. D., is the subject of this 
sketch. Frank is an occuiist and ranks 
high in his profession in Des Moines, Iowa. 
John is a farmer, residing in Mexico, Mis- 
souri. William, a deceased son, gave his 
life in defense of his country during the 
siege of X'icksburg. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
primary education in Waukesha county, 
Wisconsin, after which he entered Milton 
College, Wisconsin, from which he was 
graduated in 1869. He then went to Iowa 
and engaged in agricultural pursuits, remain- 
ing there until 1877, when he went to Chi- 
cago, and attended a course of medical lec- 
tures, but did not then graduate. Returning 
to Iowa, he studied and practiced with his 
brother, even then a prominent physician, 
until 1882, when he again went to Chicago 
and became associated with his two brothers 
in study and practice. In 1887 he again 
attended medical college, and was graduated 
from the Chicago Homeopathic College. In 
March of the same year he removed to La 
Moile, Illinois, where his real active life be- 
gan, and where success attended all his 
efforts. In 1892 he took up the studv of 
the eye and ear, making himself familiar 
with all the diseases of those organs. He 
is an expert at testing the eye and fitting 
glasses to suit all the conditions of that del- 
icate member. 

On the 1 8th of May, 1875, Dr. Duncan 
was united in marriage with Miss Anna 
English, a native of Mitchell county. Iowa, 
born in 1855, and a daughter of Samuel 
English, one of the early settlers of that 
county. Mrs. Duncan died May r, 1877, 



leaving one son, Clifford }., born September 
10, 1876. On the 8th of April, 1880, the 
Doctor was joined by marriage with Miss 
Nettie M. Patchen, a daughter of Orlando 
and Cassie Patchen, of Wisconsin. By 
this union three boys were born: Howard 
W., December ir, 1 SS 1 ; I). Edgar, De- 
cember 3, 1885; and Thomas Ro\-, Novem- 
ber 22, 1889. 

Dr. Duncan remained in La Moile, Illi- 
nois, until October 15, 1896, when he re- 
moved to De Kalb, where he now resides, 
and where he enjoys the full confidence of 
De Kalb's best citizens. As a physician he 
has been very successful. 



CAPTAIN HENRY C. W HITTEMORE, 
one of the representative and honored 
citizens of De Kalb county, who for many 
years has been one of the leading merchants 
of Sycamore, was born at Auburn, New 
York, October 31, 1841, and is the son of 
Lorenzo and Hannah (Kelsey 1 Whittemore. 
His father was born in Leicester, Massa- 
chusetts, March 11, 1807, and was the son 
of Samuel Whittemore, who was a native of 
the same place, born September 15, 1769. 
Samuel Whittemore was a son of Lieuten- 
ant James Whittemore, who was first ser- 
geant of a company during the war of the 
Revolution, and who marched with his c :)m- 
pany to Le.xington, April 17, 1775, and 
was subsequently promoted to lieutenant. 
James was the son of John of Leicester, and 
a great-grandson of Thomas, who came to 
America from Hitchin, county Hereford, 
England, in 1641, settling in Charlestown, 
Massachusetts. 

Samuel \\'hittemore, who was a farmer 
by occupation, moved from Massachusetts 
to New York and resided for a time in Cav- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'5; 



uga and Allegany counties. He later 
moved to Sycamore, Illinois, but died at 
Westfield, New York, in 1866. while on a 
visit to that place. His wife, Catherine 
Ringer, died some twent}' years previously. 
Lorenzo Whittemore came west in 1848, 
and located in Sycamore, where his death 
occurred August :; 1 , 1887. He was by occu- 
pation a carp-nter, but also learned the 
shoemaking trade and was engaged in that 
line of business for a time. He was a 
natural mechanic. Politically he was a 
Republican, and religiously a member of the 
Congregational church. . He was a large, 
portly man, weighing two hundred and 
twenty-five pounds. At one time he was 
coroner of the county, serving a single term. 
His wife, Hannah Kelsey, was a native of 
Ulster county. New Yoik, born December 
25, 1805, and died at Sycamore in March, 
1879. They were the parents of two chil- 
dren, Henry C. and Floyd K. The latter 
is now deputy state treasurer and resides at 
Springfield, Illinois. He was born October 
2, 1S44, at Auburn, New York, came west 
with his parents and was educated in the 
schools of Sycamore. \her serving an ap- 
prenticeship in the office of the True Repub- 
lican, he entered the offices of the circuit 
clerk of De Kalb county, and served from 
1 86 1 to 1864. In 1865 he was made assist- 
ant state treasurer under Beverridge, and 
served with hitn two years, going out at the 
expiration of his term. He then entered 
the banking house of Jacob Bunn, at Spring- 
field, as bookkeeper and was shortly made 
teller and later cashier, serving as such until 
the organization of the State National Bank 
at Springfield, when he became cashier of 
that institution, serving about twenty years. 
He then became cashier of the subtreasury 
at Chicago, under the administration of 



President Harrison. In 1895 he was made 
assistant state treasurer, and has held that 
position up to the present time. In the 
summer of 1898 he was nominated on the 
Republican ticket for the office of state 
treasurer. He is regarded as one of the 
best financiers in Illinois. 

Henry C. Whittemore, our subject, was 
reared in Sycamore, where he received his 
education in the public schools. For a time 
he served as clt-rk in a mercantile establish- 
ment, and then entered the office of the cir- 
cuit clerk and was there engaged when the 
war broke out. He enlisted in September, 
18G1, and was mustered in in October of 
the same year, as a member of Battery G, 
Second Illinois Light Artillery, Captain C. 
J. Stolbrand commanding. He was in a 
camp of instruction until December, then 
went to Cairo, and from there followed the 
army down the Mississippi. He was ap- 
pointed ordnance officer at Cairo, and had 
charge of the ordnance department of the 
Army of the Tennessee. He was with the 
fieet at Island No. 10, where he remained 
two weeks. He then went to Columbus, 
Kentucky, and was engaged in keeping open 
the railroads there. At that place he served 
on the staff of General Ouimby, and also 
General Davis. He was later transferred to 
the Army of the Cumberland, and was judge 
advocate for several months. He was then 
with his battery in front of Fort Donelson. 
Later he w^as placed on the staff of General 
Rousseau and ser\ed with him until the 
close of the war. 

Captain Whittemore was mustered out 
of service July 29, 1865, and was soon aft- 
erwards sent south in the employ of the 
postal department, in reorganizing the pos- 
tal service in the southern states. He con- 
tinued in that service until 1867, when he 



I 5.^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



returned home and later engaged in the 
tanning business in which he continued for 
a tiuic. In 1873 he coininenced in the 
hardware business under the tirni name of 
Harkness iS: W'hittemore. which partner- 
ship Cfintinued until the formfr's death, 
when Mr. Chaniberlain and Mr. A. W. 
Brower purchased the interest of the Hark- 
ness heirs, and the tirm became Whitte- 
niore, Chambeilain & Co. Later Mr. 
Chamberlain retired and the hrm became 
W'hittemore & Brower. They carry a large 
line of general hardware, agricultural im- 
plements, carriages and wagons, and have 
iiuilt up a large trade. 

Captain Whittemore was united in mar- 
riage March 17, 1864, to Miss Amelia Mar- 
tin, a daughter of Harry and Jane (Slack) 
Martin, both of whom were natives of Ver- 
mont. She was born in Sycamore, to 
which place her parents removed some 
years previously. By this union there are 
five children: Charles F., born in July, 1865, 
died at the age of six years. Mary is yet 
under the parental roof. Harry M., who 
is engaged in business with his father, mar- 
ried Miss Gertrude Chapell, by whom he 
has one child, Helen. Cora married Dr. 
George W. Nesbitt, of Sycamore. Flojd 
graduated from the high school at Syca- 
more, then entered the Illinois University, 
from which he was also graduated. He is 
now employed in the office of the state 
treasurer at Springfield. 

Mrs. Whittemore is a member of the 
Congregational church in which she takes 
an active part. Politically the Captain is 
a Republican, with which part}' he has 
been associated since attaining his major- 
ity. By his party he has been honored 
with a number of official positions, includ- 
ing alderman of his ward and member of 



the county board of supervisors. He was 
first elected a member cf the board in 1883, 
and has been re-elected at each succeeding 
election, and is yet serving as a member, 
gi\ing eminent safisfaction. He was a 
member of tlie thirty-fourth general as- 
sembl\' at the time General Logan was 
elected United States senator, after a hard 
and gallant fight. As a member of that 
body Captain W'hittemore did good serv- 
ice. He is now one of the trustees of the 
State Home for Juvenile Offenders at Ge- 
neva. He has always taken an active in- 
terest in political affairs, and is usually a 
delegate in the various con\entit)ns of his 
party, county, congressional and state. 

Fraternally Captain Whittemore is a 
Mason, and is a memlier of the blue lodge, 
chapter and commandery at Sycamore. 
He is also a member of Potter Post, No. 
12, G. A. R. , at Sycamore, of which he is 
past commander. He is a man of social 
character and generous instinct. As a citi- 
zen he is public-spirited and is active in all 
enterprises for the benefit of the people. 
He is greatly esteemed by all who know 
him. 



JOHN POWERS, who resides on section 
28, Alton township, is a representative 
farmer and well known throughout the 
county. He is a native of county Water- 
ford, Ireland, born December 20, 1837. 
and is the son of John and Catherine (Ouin- 
lan) Powers, who were also natives of Ire- 
land and the parents of five children, Ed- 
ward, Patrick, John, Mary and Ann 

In 1854, when but seventeen >ears of 
age, our subject came to America, and 
workeil on a farm in De Kalb county by the 
month for several years in order that he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



159 



might get a start in the world. Previous 
to leaving his native land he attended a 
private school, and received a limited edu- 
cation. Since coming to the United States, 
by reading and observation, he has become 
a well-informed man. In 1864 he made 
his first purchase of land, buying two hun- 
dred acres at sixteen dollars per acre. 
Later he purchased eighty acres more, giv- 
ing him a fine farm of two hundred and 
eighty acres of good land, which, with the 
improvements, is now worth about seventy- 
five dollars per acre. 

Mr. Powers was united in marriage with 
Miss x\nna Hannagan, a native of Ireland 
and of Irish descent. Eleven children have 
been born to this union, of whom three are 
deceased. The living are Anna, John, 
Stephen, William, Nora, Maggie, Fred and 
Ed. Mr. Powers and his family are all 
members of the Catholic chiircii, and in 
politics he is a Democrat. He has always 
been interested in educational affairs, and 
for full}- twenty years has served as a mem- 
ber of the school board, A farmer who 
thoroughly understands his business, he has 
met with success in his vocation. As a cit- 
izen he is greatly esteemed in the commu- 
nity, which has been his home for more 
than a third of a centurj'. 



JOHN G. DAVY, foreman in Bradt & 
J Shipman's glove factory, De Kalb, Illi- 
nois, is a native of the city, born March 7, 
1859, and is the son of Charles and Mary 
Ann (Whitler) Davy, both natives of Eng- 
land, who emigrated to this country in 1S55, 
locating in De Kalb, Illinois, where the 
father engaged in the butcher business in 
which he proved very successful. In i860, 
during the campaign, lie killed and roasted 



an o.N, in honor of Lincoln's visit to the city. 
He was a strict business man, true to those 
principles which guide and govern success- 
ful men. He died June 29, 1862, at the 
age of thirty two years, his widow and two 
sons surviving. 

John G. Davy was reared and educated' 
in De Kalb, and after receiving his educa- 
tion in the schools of the city, he was em- 
ployed by George Gurler in the grocery 
trade, for whom he worked three and a half 
years. At the age of twenty-two, he went 
to work for I. A. Robinson, in the glove 
factory, then located in the basement of the 
Glidden House. He remained there two 
years, and at the expiration of his first year 
Mr. Robinson made him foreman of the 
shop. In 1883 he bought the De Kalb 
Mitten Coinpan}', which he successfully con- 
ducted on his own account, increasing the 
business to such an extent that Mott & Wol- 
cott were induced to buy him out in 1891. 
In the following year Mott & Wolcott sold 
out to Bradt & Shipman, who put Mr. Davy 
in charge of the entire plant. 

On the 29th of March, 1882, Mr. Davy 
was united in marriage with Miss Laura B. 
Stevens, born at Sterling, New York, August 
5, 1865, and a daughter of Phillip and Car- 
oline M. Stevens. Her father died March 
25, 1880, and her mother moved with the 
family to De Kalb county, Illinois, arriving 
here May 18, 1880. To Mr. and Mrs. Davy 
five children have been born: Althea Ruth, 
born October 11, 1883; Percival E. , Febru- 
ary 10, 1886; Benjamin L., December i, 
1888; Reuben R., June i, 1891; and Okley 
B., October 12, 1893. 

Mr. Davy is one of De Kalb's prominent 
young men, of good business tact and enter- 
prise. He has been interested in the man- 
ufacture of cigars for a number of years, 



i6o 



THE BIOGKArilKAL RECORD. 



;iiid has brought upon the iiiarkel several 
novel and choice brands, one known as the 
" Fraternit. " He has also carried on suc- 
cessfully the lunch-room known as " The 
F'amous Coffee House," ?ituated on Sixth 
street, near the depot. By his townsmen 
he has been chosen as a fit man to repre- 
sent their interests in office, and is now 
servinji his second term as alderman ol the 
second ward. He is a charter member of 
the Modern Woodmen of America, orj^an- 
ized in 1884, and is also a membtr of the 
Knights of Pythias, Rnights of the Macca- 
bees, Royal Neighbors and Home Formi], 
in all of which he is a leat'ing spirit. 



AMOS W . TOWNSENl), deceased, was 
for many years one of the leading busi- 
ness men of De Kalb count}-, a man well 
known throughout its length and breadth, 
one who by his own success was enabled to 
assist others in securing a foothold in life. 
His life was an exemplification of the fact 
that there are no rules for building charac- 
ters and none for achieving success. The 
man who can rise from the ranks to a posi- 
tion of eminence is he who can see and util- 
ize the opportunities that surround his path. 
The essential conditions of human life are 
ever tl)e same; the surroundings of indi\id- 
uals differ but slightly. When one man 
passes another on the highwa}' of life, it is 
because he has the power to use advantages 
which probably encompass the whole human 
race. 

Amos W. Townsend was born in the 
town of Neversink, Sullivan county, New 
York, September 23, 1832. His ancestry 
is traced back to his great-grandfather, 
Charles Townsend, who lived for some years 
in Sussex county. New York, but spent the 



latter years of his life in Sulli\an county, in 
the same state, d)'ing when cpjite an old 
man. His wife was a Miss Hall. During 
the Revolutionary war, he served in the 
unlitia of New \'ork, assisting the struggle 
f<jr independence. His son, jrjshua Town- 
send, was born in Deckertown, Sussex coun- 
ty. New York, July 14, 1787. He married 
Phebe Porter, a native of New Haven coun- 
ty, Connecticut, born P'ebruary 17, 1787. 
They came west in 1840, locating in May field 
township, De Kalb county, Illinois, where the 
former died April 17, 1861, and the latter 
.April 28, 1867. Their son, Stephen Town- 
send, the father of our subject, was born in 
Sulli\an C(->unty, New \'ork, in the town of 
Ne\'ersink, [une 30, 1807. He there married 
Miss Ann Denman. Herfather, William Den- 
man, was born in Ditchling, Sussex county, 
England, November 12, 1763. He married 
.\nn Boorman, born in Sheddom, Kent coun- 
ty, England, August 9, 1772. They later 
emigrated to the United States, and settled 
in the town of Neversink, Sullivan county, 
New York, where his death occurred De- 
cember 10, 185S, his wife preceding him, 
having died June 5, 1842. In 1 840, Stephen 
Townsend came with his family to Mayfield 
township, De Kalb county, Illinois, where 
he purchased a farm ami where the re- 
mainder of his life was passed. He died 
some ) ears ago and his wife makes her home 
in Sycamore and is now eighty-nine years 
old. 

The subject of this sketch was but eight 
years of age when he came with the family 
to De Kalb county. They came to this 
country preceded by an uncle of our sub- 
ject, who came here in 1837. There were 
three generations in the party, and all lo- 
cated in Ma\fielJ township. They diove 
through from the east with teams, and were 




AMOS V/. TOWNSEND. 




MRS. A. W^. TOWNSEND. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



165 



several weeks in making the journey. Pre- 
vious to their leaving Sullivan county, New 
York, our subject there attended school for 
a year or two, and after his coming to De 
Kalb county he attended the district school 
for a time, and completed his education in 
the Wheaton academy now Wheaton Col- 
lege. Before attaining his majority, he be- 
gan farming on his grandfather's farm, where 
he remained until the time of his marriage. 

Mr. Townsend was married in Sycamore, 
October 15, 1857, to Miss Eleanor Pierce, 
a native of Sullivan county, New York, and 
a daughter of Daniel and Phebe j. (Brund- 
age) Pierce, of whom mention is made else- 
where in this work. By this union five 
children have been born. Frederick B. is 
the present mayor of Sycamore and man- 
ager of the bank of Daniel Pierce & Com- 
pany. A more extended notice of him 
appears on another page uf this work. 
Jennie married Charles A. Webster, and 
they have three children, Marian, Fred- 
erick C. and Pierce. They reside in Gales- 
burg, Illinois. Anna married Frank E. 
Claycomb, of Monmouth, Illinois, by whom 
she had five children, Eleanor, Amos T., 
Aha Louise, George F. and Edward Den- 
man. She is now deceased, dying April 8, 
1892. Georgia married Captain John E. 
Yates, and their four children are Dorothy, 
Margaret, Marjorie and Oscar T. The 
family now reside in Boise City, Idaho. 
Mary, the youngest born, yet remains with 
her mother. 

Immediatel}' after his marriage, Mr. 
Townsend bought a farm a few miles north 
of Malta, where he lived for nineteen years, 
and where he successfully followed agricult- 
ural pursuits. In the fall of 1876, on ac- 
count of the death of the mother of Mrs. 
Tow'nsend, they reniovcd to a farm one 



mile west of Sycamore, to make a home for 
Mrs. Townsend's father. On removal to 
this farm, in addition to giving his personal 
attention to its management, Mr. Town- 
send soon became interested in the banking 
house of Daniel Pierce & Company, as the 
junior member of the firm. He was a 
thorough business man, methodical in all 
his ways, and success crowned his efforts. 
In politics he was a stanch Republican, and 
while always taking an active interest in 
political affairs, and while giving unswerving 
allegiance to his party, he never asked nor 
would accept office, save that of supervisor 
of his township, an office which was forced 
upon him b}' his friends and neighbors, be- 
cause of his well-known ability and strict 
integrity of character. His death occurred 
August 25, 1887, and his remains were laid 
to rest in the beautiful cemetery at Syca- 
more. By his death the wife lost an affec- 
tionate husband, and the children a kind 
and loving father, and the community one 
of its best known citizens, a man that was 
ever ready to do his part in promoting the 
business and material welfare of his adopted 
county and state. Mrs. Townsend now re- 
sides in a beautiful residence on Scmonauk 
street. Sycamore, Illinois, and her home is 
the abode of hospitality and the center of a 
refined circle of friends and acquaintances, 
who esteemed her for her many excellent 
traits of character. 



WILLIAM H. ROBINSON, for many 
years a successful farmer in Syca- 
more township, and later a dealer in agri- 
cultural implements in the city of Syca- 
more, but who is now living a retired life, 
was born January 9, 1835. His father, 
John l-iobinson, was born in Lancashire, 



1 66 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



England, November 14, 1804, and came to 
America, when but eighteen years old, sail- 
ing from Liverpool and landing in Canada, 
where he resided for a time, and later 
moved to New York, but returned to Can- 
ada. In the fall of 1836 he came to Illi- 
nois and selected a location in Plato town- 
ship. Kane county, and then sent for his 
family, consisting then of a wife, son and 
daughter. They came in the spring of 
1837, and he there made his home until his 
death, with the exception of about three 
years spent in California. In 1852 he went 
with a drove of cattle across the plains to 
California, riding all the way on horseback, 
and was from April to November in making 
the journey. He reached the mountains 
too late to get the cattle through, and 
therefore left them with his partners in Car- 
son Valley until the next spring. He met 
only with moderate success in mining oper- 
ations. After the expiration of three years 
he returned to Plato township, Ivane coun- 
ty, Illinois, and resumed farming. Success 
attended him as an agriculturist, and he ac- 
quired two hundred and fifty acres of very 
valuable land. \\'hile residing in Canada he 
married Sarah Hole, a native of Somerset- 
shire, England, born in 1800, and who 
came to America in 1818. Her father, 
Robert Hole, who married Rachel Hans- 
ford in England, settled first in Canada, and 
later came to the United States, settling 
near St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois, 
where he engaged in farming, but later re- 
turned to Canada, where he died at the age 
of ninety-seven years. To John and Sarah 
Robinson four children were born. Mary 
Ann married Gilbert Sawin, and both are 
now deceased. William H. is the subject 
of this sketch. Robert lives in Elgin. 
Rachel died in young wouianhood. 



William H. Robinson, our subject, was 
born in Bradford, Canada, and was brought 
by his parents to Plato township, Kane coun- 
ty, Illinois. On the farm of his father he 
grew to manhood and assisted in its culti- 
vation from the time he was able to hold 
the plow. His education was limited to 
the common schools of Plato township, but 
by reading and observation he has since 
become well informed. When his father 
went to California he left him, a lad of sev- 
enteen years, in charge of the home farm, 
with all its responsibilites. He remained 
under the parental roof until the age oi 
twenty-four years, when he was united in 
marriage, August i, 1S58, with Miss Sabron 
C. Seward, born at Romulus, Seneca coun- 
ty. New York, October 18, 1837, but who 
at the age of two years was taken by her 
parents to Broome county. New York. In 
185 I the family moved west and settled in 
North Plato, Kane county, Illinois. Her 
father, Chandlej' Lambert Seward, was 
born in Courtwright, Delaware county. New 
York, in 1807. In Broome county, the 
same state, he married Harriet Lee, No- 
vember 28, 1830. She was born in Che- 
nango county, New York, April 25, 181 3, 
and is the daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah 
(French) Lee, who moved from Connecti- 
cut to New York, at a very early day. Na- 
thaniel Lee was a fine cabinet maker, and 
made a set of furniture for his daughter 
Harriet when she began housekeeping as 
the wife of Mr. Seward. Chandley L. and 
Harriet Seward were the parents of four 
children, of whom Mrs. Robinson is third 
in order of birth. The others were Mary 
Jane Holmes, \vho lives in Kaneville, Illi- 
nois; Nathaniel Edrick, living in Boone 
county, Illinois; and ^^'illiam Wallace, who 
li\es in Newago county, iMichigan. Chand- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



167 



ley L. Seward was one of the first to vol- 
unteer from Kane county in the Civil war, 
enlisting for three years. His son, Nathan- 
iel Edrick, served four years in that war, 
enlisting in Kansas. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, 
William Robinson, lived and died in Lan- 
cashire, England, where he was the owner 
of forty acres of land which is now in the 
heart of the city of Lanshire. The grand- 
father of Mrs. Robinson, David Seward, a 
native of New York, married Susan Smith 
and moved to Michigan, where he died 
some years ago. He was a soldier in the 
war of 1 8 1 2 . 

To our subject and wife four children 
have been born, (i) George E., born in 
Plato township, Kane county, Illinois, May 
27, 1859, married Miner\a Love, who was 
a successful school teacher, and they have 
six children, Carrie, Arthur, Glenn, Leon 
D. and Fern S. and an infant. For some 
years he was engaged in the farming imple- 
ment business with his father, but now con- 
tinuing the same business in partnership 
with his brother-in-law, L. D. Lcve. 
George E. is a graduate of a business col- 
lege in Jacksonville, Illinois. (2) Cora B. 
married Fred S. Rich, and they have one 
son, Ernest Paul. Their home is in New- 
ton, Iowa, where he is engaged in the 
manufacture of self-feeders for threshing 
machines. Cora attended Jennings Semi- 
nary at Aurora and later taught school for 
several terms. (3) Elsie A. is a graduate 
of the Sycamore public schools. She studied 
stenography and journalism, and was em- 
ployed during the World's Fair at Chicago, 
by the Press Bureau, to gather news at the 
White City. At the close of the fair she 
accepted a position with the same bureau 
jii New York City. She is a writer on 



special topics for the New York Herald, 
New York World and the Chicago Times- 
Herald. As a story writer, and also a 
writer of poetry, she has contributed to 
such magazines as Lippincott's, Overland 
and others. She is a fluent writer, spe- 
cially strong in expressive adjectives, with a 
good conception of local color. She is now 
a stenographer in the office of a railroad 
official in Butte, Montana, a position which 
does not interfere with her literary work. 
(4) Edith died in infancy. 

Immediately after his marriage, Mr. 
Robinson was deeded forty acres on sec- 
tion 8, a part of his father's farm, and later 
lie bought eighty acres in an adjoining sec- 
tion, and a timber tract in Hampshire 
township. In 1865, he sold that farm and 
came to De Kalb county and purchased one 
hundred and five acres in sections 4 and 9, 
Sycamore township, and there engaged in 
farming until 1874, when he moved to the 
city of Sycamore, opened an agricultural 
implement store and engaged in the busi- 
ness until January i, 1897, when he sold 
his interest to his son and son-in-law, who 
for some time had been in partnership with 
him. 

In politics Mr. Robinson is a Republican. 
The family are regular attendants of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 



ORLANDO HARPER is a retired farm- 
er living in the village of Kingston. 
He was born in what is now Erie county, 
Ohio, May 27, 1830, and is the son of 
Joseph and Susan (Williams) Harper, the 
former a native of New York and the latter 
of Vermont. Prior to the birth of our sub- 
ject, they had resided in Ohio for some 
time, where the father engaged in agricult- 



i68 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ural pursuits. In 1839 they removed to 
Boone county, Illinois, where they remained 
about one year, and then moved to Frank- 
lin township, De Kalb count}-, antl in 1841 
located in Kingston township, where the 
father made a claim to a farm of one hun- 
dred and si.\ty acres, which he improved 
and upon which they lived a prosperous and 
respected people. Afterwards he purchased 
it from the government. Joseph Harper 
died in 1848, at the age of fifty- four years, 
and his wife in 1857, at the age of sixty 
years. Their famih' numbered nine chil- 
dren, four of whom are now living, Mrs. 
Laura W. Buck, George, Col. J. W. and 
Orlando. 

The subject of this sketch was tifth in 
order of birth, and was reared and educated 
mostly in Kingston township, being nine 
years of age when his parents removed to 
Illinois. He remained upon the home farm 
and assisted in its cultivation until after he 
attained his majority, in the meantime at- 
tending the common schools, as the oppor- 
tunity was afforded him. On the 21st of 
September, 1853, he was united in mar- 
riage with .Miss Sallie Cameron, a native of 
Indiana, born July 21, 1837, and a daughter 
of William and Sallie Cameron, who came 
to De Kalb county in 1843, locating in 
Kingston township, on section 19, where 
her father purchased a farm of one hundred 
and twenty acres. He was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1793, and died in 1872, at the age 
of seventy-nine years. His wife was born 
in Virginia in 1795, and died in 1868, at the 
age of seventy-three years. They were 
well-to-do people, and highly respected for 
the true worth. 

Immediately after his marriage Mr. 
Harper rented a farm, which he cultivated 
for two years. He iuid youth, strength, 



ambition and pluck on his side, and saw the 
necessity of putting his entire energies on a 
place of his own. He therefore purchased 
a small farm of eight}- acres in section 31, 
Kingston township, upon which he built 
and where he resided for six years. In 
1865 he sold that farm to H. P. Grout, and 
purchased another farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres of partially impro\-ed land, and 
which in after years under his skillful hands 
and governing mind became a model farm. 
He was always practical and kept abreast 
of the times. In 1881, on account of fail- 
ing health, he retired to Kingston, renting 
his farm. There with his wife he lives a 
peaceful and contented life. He has been 
honored with the office of trustee of his 
town, an office which he conscientiously 
filled. 



CHARLES S. HOLMES, who is living 
retired in the village of Shabbona, 
came to De Kalb county, in 1848. He is 
a native of New York, born in Madison 
county, July 14, 1S37. He is the son of 
Richard Holmes, a native of Vermont, born 
in 1 8 10, and the grandson of Seth Holmes, 
a native of one of the New Enland states. 
The family are of English descent, and 
were early sttlers of New England. Seth Hol- 
mes moved from Vermont to New York, and 
became one of the pioneers of Madison 
county. Richard Holmes, his son, there 
grew to manhood and married Lucretia 
Smith, a native of New York, born near the 
Hudson river. For a number of years, he 
engaged in merchandising at Albany, New- 
York, and in 1848 came to De Kalb county, 
Illinois, and purchased a tract of land in 
Paw Paw township, owing some live or six 
hundred acres. W'itii his suns he com- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



169 



menced the development of the place, and 
later sold a portion, leaving the home farm 
to consist of two hundred and forty acres, 
oil which he erected good substantial build- 
ings, and spent some years there. His last 
days were spen, at the home of his sons, in 
the village of Shabbona. He died in March, 
1895, at the age of eighty-five years. His 
wife passed away in April, 1889, at the age 
of seventy-nine years. Previous to his 
moving to Shabbona, he resided some 
twenty years at Leland. By his fellow 
citizens he was honored with various town- 
ship offices, including road commissioner 
and supervisor. Richard and Lucretia 
Holmes were the parents of three sons. J. 
L. is a retired farmer, residing in Paw Paw 
township, near Rollo. Charles S. is the 
subject of this review. George R. is a 
business man of De Kalb. 

Charles S. Holmes came to De Kalb 
county, with his parents, when a lad of 
eleven years, and was educated in the com- 
mon schools and in the seminary at Paw 
Paw. He later took a commercial 
course at L. W. Burnham's Commercial 
College at Rockford, Illinois. He then 
engaged in merchandising at Ross' G.ove, 
two years, but not liking the business, he 
sold out and returned to the farm. Purchas- 
ing the interest of the other heirs, he 
succeeded to the old homestead, to which he 
later added one hundred and twenty acres, 
making him a fine and very productive farm 
of three hundred and sixty acres. In addi- 
tion to general farming, he gave some atten- 
tion to graded stock, and had some tine 
driving horses, from which he sold two 
teams one day, for nine hundred and fifty 
dollars. In his farming operations he was 
quite successful, but in 1883 he rented the 
farm, moved to Shabbona, purchased an 



acre of ground, built a residence and has 
since lived retired. 

Mr. Holmes was married in State Cen- 
ter, Iowa, December 11, 1873, to Miss Ella 
Sherwood, who was born, reared and edu- 
cated in Shabbona, De Kalb county, Illinois, 
and who commenced teaching in the public 
schools when but sixteen years of age, and 
was a successful teacher in De Kalb county 
for five years. She is a daughter of Solo- 
man and Martha Sherwood, natives of Ver- 
mont and West Virginia respectively. Mr. 
Sherwood came with his family to De Kalb 
county, March 1, 1852, and settled on a 
farm near the village of Shabbona. He 
met his death by accident in 1858. His 
wife survived him and reared the family 
of eight children that grew to maturity, 
six of whom are living at the present 
time. To Mr. and Mrs. Holmes three 
sons have been born. Charles S., Jr., who 
is a well educated young man, is now taking 
a course at the Metropolitan Business Col- 
lege, Chicago. Fred W. is a graduate of 
the Shabbona schools, and is also taking a 
course at the Metropolitan College, and has 
entered th'j Northwestern University of Den- 
tistry, of Chicago, Illinois. Clare Richard is a 
student of the Shabbona schools, and is resid- 
ingat home. They lost onadiughter, Grace 
Ella, who died at the age of fifteen months. 

Politically Mr. Holmes was originally 
identified with the Democratic party, giving 
his support to the "little giant," Stephen 
A. Douglas, in i860. Later he became a 
Republican, with which party lie was iden- 
tified for soma years, but on account of his 
stanch temperance principles he has of late 
voted the Prohibition ticket. He never de- 
sired nor asked for office, and while in the 
country never served in an official capacit}-, 
but since his remo\-al to the village he has 



r 70 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



served on the village board two terms, one 
year being president of the board. 

Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, together with 
their two youngest sons, are members of 
the Congregational church in Shabbona, in 
which both are active workers. Both were 
teachers in the Sunday school, where they 
have been instrumental in doing much good. 
The latter is still a teacher. For many 
years Mrs. Holmes has had charge of a class 
of adults, made up mostly of the young men 
of the place. Her class book shows that 
she has had sevent}- different pupils, some 
who have been actively engaged in business. 
Her influence has always been for good. In 
the fifty years in which Mr. Holmes has 
been a resident of De Kalb county, he has 
done his share in making it rank among the 
best counties of the state. His teaching 
and his e.xample has always been for good. 



CAPT.MX JOSEPH W. FOSTER, a 
resident of the village of Kingston, is 
a native of Adams county, Ohio, born Jan- 
uary 17, 1828, and is- the son of Moses C. 
and Anna B (Robb) Foster, the former a 
native of Adams county, Ohio, and the 
latter of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, both 
born about 1 S06. He lived until his eighty- 
fourth year, while his wife lived to see her 
seventy-fourth year. Moses C. Foster was 
the son of Nathaniel and Rebecca C. Fos- 
ter, the former a native of New Jersey, who 
served six years in the Revolutionary army, 
and who finally settled in Ohio, where he 
died at an advanced age. Thomas Robb, 
the maternal grandfather of our subject, 
was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. 
He was the father of a pair of twins, John 
and Thomas, who fought under General 
lackson in the war of 1812. .A \oiinger 



son, William, was sheriff for several terms 
of a county in Indiana, also a representative 
in the state legislature. All were men of 
great influence in political affairs in their 
respective places of abode. Thomas Robb 
came to De Kalb county in 1835, locating in 
Kingston township where he took up one 
hundred and si.xty acres of prairie and tim- 
ber land in section 22. Politically he was 
a Democrat and a man of influence in his 
party. He served fiis township in various 
offices He also assisted in the organiza- 
tion of De Kalb county. His death oc- 
curred in 1844 at the age of seventy years. 
James K. Polk, once president of the Unit- 
ed States, was a cousin of Thomas Robb. 

Moses C. Foster was a potter by trade, 
and an expert workman. He removed 
from Ohio to Indiana, and there resided six 
years, coming from that state to Illinois in 
1836, locating in Kingston township, De 
Kalb county, where he purchased a farm of 
eighty acres on section 26. After his re- 
moval to the latter place he confined him- 
self principally to agricultural pursuits. He 
was quite active in politics, and was well 
versed in the political issues of the day. 
Originally he was a strong Henry Clay 
\\'hig, but subsequently became a Republic- 
an, with which party he was identified un- 
til his death in 1890. By his fellow citizens 
he was honored with several of the princi- 
pal township offices. His wife died in 
1868. Their family consisted of nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom grew to maturity and 
six of whom are now living. 

Joseph W. Foster, our subject, was but 
eight years of age when his parents came to 
Kingston township. He was there reared 
upon the home farm and after receiving his 
education in the common schools followed 
the vocation of a fartner until 18^2, when 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



i/t 



he went to Belvidere, Boone county, Illi- 
nois, and there engaged in the mercantile 
business, in which he continued for seven 
years. During his stay at Belvidere he be- 
came a member of a military company 
known as the Boone Rifles. In i 859 he re- 
moved to De Kalb, where he was for a 
time engaged in the grain business. In 1861 
he assisted in organizing a company, the 
services of which were offered to the gen- 
eral government and of which he was com- 
missioned first lieutenant. The compan\- 
was assigned to the Forty-second Illinois 
\^o]unteer, Infantry under Colonel D. Stuart, 
and became known as Company K. With 
his regiment he went to the front and par- 
ticipated in the battles of Farmington, Co- 
lumbia, Stone River, Chickamauga, and in 
the latter engagement was severely wounded, 
September 20, 1863, and left for dead on 
the battlefield, and taken prisoner by the 
enemy. He was removed from one prison 
to another and was finally incarcerated in 
Libby prison, where he originated the 
scheme of tunneling the prison. The 
scheme was carried out and one hundred 
and nine men escaped, but it was discovered 
before his turn came. He was thus doomed 
to be a prisoner uati"l the close of the war. 
He was mustered out of the service, as cap- 
tain, May 15, 1865, after spending seven- 
teen months and eleven days in prison. 

On his return to civil life Captain Foster 
settled in Kingston township, where he 
turned his attention to farming until 1892, 
when he removed to the village of Kingston 
where he now resides. On June 19, 1849, 
he was joined in wedlock with Miss Alidah 
Baringer, born at Sand Lake, Genesee coun- 
ty, New York, August 30, 1831, and a 
daughter of Martin and Mary Ann Baringer. 
l>v this union four children were born, three 



of whom are now living; John W., Charles 
M. and Thomas P. The first two are farm- 
ers, while the latter is a skillful mechanic. 
Captain Foster is a popular man in his 
town and is thoroughly alive to all its inter- 
ests. As an appreciation of his willingness 
to serve well they have elected him assessor 
for fourteen years. He has also been pres- 
ident of the board of trustees for one term. 
Under President Hayes' administration he 
was appointed assistant United States mar- 
shal, and took the census of se\'en town- 
ships in De Kalb county. His arm\' record 
is good — none better --and when found 
wounded on the battlefield of Chickamauga 
no man was nearer the enemy's lines. As 
a reward for his bravery and injuries re- 
ceived the government pays him a pension. 
He is a member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic and has been commander of the 
post at Kingston. He and his wiie are con- 
sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and he was superintendent of the 
Sunday school for four years at Charter Oak. 



ALFRED BRADBURY is a retired mer- 
chant residing in Waterman. Illinois. 
He is a native of England, born in the county 
of Middlesex, near London, September 27, 
1822, and is the son of Jacob and Mary 
(Wetherly) Bradbury, both of whom were 
natives of Middlese.x county, the former liv- 
ing to the remarkable age of ninety-two 
years, the latter dying when seventy-eight 
years old. They were the parents of five 
children: Charles, deceased; Alfred, our sub- 
ject: Frances, who married a Mr. Honn- 
densden, and is now a widow residing in 
London; Ambrose, deceased; and Mrs. Sarah 
Whitehead, residing in London. Mrs. Brad- 
bury, the mother of these children, was a 



172 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



daufjjhter of William Such, of London. ;i 
traveling man, who married Ann Blake, also 
a native of England. Mrs. Bradbury uas 
also born in the city of London. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in his native county, and in his youth 
learned the carriage and wagon maker's 
trade, but later worked at railroad carriage 
building in the city of London, for about 
eight years, being in the employ of the Lon- 
don & Northwestern Railroad Company. 
He was married in l^ondon, fuly 15, 1847. 
to Elizabeth Such, a native of London, 
England. In 1S55, with his family, he came 
to the United States, taking passage on a 
sailing vessel and being five weeks on the 
Atlantic ocean. He arrived in New York 
May 22, and came directly west to De Kalb 
county, Illinois, where he joined his brother 
Charles and located in Squaw drove town- 
ship in 1S51. 

On his arrnal in De I"Calb county, Mr. 
Bradbiirv imrchased a lot at Freeland Cor- 
ners, built a shop and went to work at 
wagon making and blacksmithing, and also 
doing general repair work and continued in 
that business for seven years. He then pur- 
chased a ^"mall grocery store at the corner and 
engaged in the grocery business at that place 
for several j'ears. When the railroad was 
built he was one of the first to commence 
business in the village of Waterman, and 
the very first one to engage exclusively in 
the grocery business. For twenty years he 
was activelj" engaged in that business at 
Waterm.an, when he sold out to his son, and 
has since been living a retired life. Mr. 
IBradbury was appointed postmaster at Free- 
land, November 3, 1863, and served there 
until his removal to Waterman. Shortly 
after removing to the latter place, he was 
again appointed postmaster and served u!itil 



Cleveland was elected president in 1884, a 
period in all of twenty-three years. He has 
also served in other positions of trust and 
honor, serving as township treasurer some 
six or eight years, and as a member of the 
village board several 3'ears. Since becoming 
a naturalized citizen, he has been a stanch 
Republican, not only advocating the prin- 
ciples of the partv. but \oting the party 
ticket. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bradbury have fotu' chil- 
dren. Charles, who is a traveling sales- 
man, makes his home in Hartford City, 
Indiana. Frances Ann is the wife of Au- 
gust A. .Stryker, a farmer of DeKalb coun- 
ty. Harry is now postmaster of Waterman. 
Georgetta resides at home and assists her 
brother in the postoffice. They lost three 
children — Ambrose, who died when about 
twelve years old; William, who died when 
five years old; and Emily, who died when 
twelve years old. Mr. and Mrs. Bradbury 
were reared in the Episcopal faith. They 
have in their possession a bible that has 
been in the family for over two hundred and 
forty years. It was published in London, 
in 1637. They celebrated their golden wed- 
ding, July 15, 1897, when their children and 
grandchildren came to their home, making 
their hearts glad by their presents and tok- 
ens of love and esteem. For forty-three 
years they have resided in De Kalb county, 
and are well known, especialK' in the cen- 
tral part, and those who know them liest 
have for them the highest regard. 



GENERAL F. W. PARTRIDGE, one 
of De Kalb county's most distin- 
guished citizens, now residing in the city of 
Sycamore, comes of fighting stock. His 
great-grandfather. Captain Samuel Part- 




GEN. F. W. PARTRIDGE. 

Aged 63 Years. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'75 



ridge, served in the colonial wars, while 
his grandfather, Captain Isaac Partridge, 
was in the Revolutionary war, and his 
father. Captain Cyrus Partridge, in the war 
of 1812. A cousin. Captain Alden Par- 
tridge, was at one time superintendent at 
West Point, and later established a mili- 
tary school at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 
which our subject was military instructor. 

Captain Cyrus Partridge, the father of 
our subject, was born in Norwich, \'er- 
mont, Jul)' II, 1786, and there spent his 
entire life, dying Jul}- 16, 1842. He was a 
very prominent man in his native city and 
county, and for almost forty years was en- 
gaged in the mercantile business, and for a 
like period was postmaster. In addition to 
his mercantile business, he owned large 
sheep farms and was e.xtensively engaged 
in farming. For fifteen or twenty years he 
served as a member of the legislature, and 
was high sheriff of the county (or several 
terms. He was seldom or never out of 
one or more official positions, and could 
have had any office for the asking. A life- 
long member of the Congregational church, 
he was active in thu work of that body. 
During the wai" of 1812, he served as a 
captain of a company, and was with Scott 
at the battle of I^undy's Lane. A self-ed- 
ucated man, he had an unusually good 
inemory, keen perceptive faculties, and was 
an omniverous reader. 

Captain Cyrus Partridge was united in 
marriage December 10, 1806, with Miss 
Mary Loveland, a native of Norwich, Ver- 
mont, born November 3, 1786, and who 
died in La Salle county, Illinois, January 
24, 1866. She was the daughter of Joseph 
Loveland, a native of Glastonbury, Con- 
necticut, born April 14, 1747, and who 

died in Norwich, \'crmont, September 8, 
9 



(813. At Colchester, Connecticut, No- 
vember 12, 1773, he married Mercy Bige- 
low, a daughter of David and Mercy (Lewis) 
Bigelow. In 1776 he moved from Weath- 
ersfield, Connecticut, to Hanover, New 
Hampshire, and during the Revolutionary 
war, served in Colonel Jonathan Chase's 
regiment, and was in the battle of Ticon- 
deroga. David Bigelow was the son of 
John Bigelow, [r. , whose father was John 
Bigelow, Sr. , the son of Thomas Bigelow, 
who was an immigrant to this country. 
The Lovelands were early settlers of this 
country. A widow Loveland, with her 
three sons, settled at Glastonbury and 
Weathersfield, Connecticut, and bought In- 
dian land on both sides of the river. One 
of these brothers, Elisha, was the ancestor 
of our subject. He married Lucy Sparks, 
and served four years in the I^e\olutionary 
army. 

Frederick W. Partridge, of this sketch, 
was born on the old homestead in Norwich, 
Vermont, August 19, 1824. After attend- 
ing the common schools he studied at the 
American Literary, Scientific and Military 
Academy at Norwich, Vermont. He then en- 
tered Dartmouth College at Hanover, New 
Hampshire, which was only a mile and a 
quarter across the river from his place of 
residence, leaving at the close of the fresh- 
man year on account of the death of his 
father. In 1845, a few years after his fa- 
ther's death, he went to Pennsylvania and 
took charge of the Harrisburg Military Col- 
lege, which was established by his distin- 
guished cousin. He proved to be a pro- 
ficient teacher in military as well as classi- 
cal branches. 

In January, 1847, Mr. Partridge enlisted 
in the United States army and was en- 
trusted with a secret mission to Me.xico by 



ij6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



President James K. Polk, with instructions 
to see how operations were beitig conducted 
at the front, reporting to the Secretary of 
War. Being a secret mission he could not 
have credentials, and when captured as a 
spy he could not divulge the object of his 
mission. He was imprisoned at Sun Juan 
D'Ulloa, where his cousin, Henry S. Kur- 
ton, lieutenant of First Artillery, was in 
command. He was later a general in the 
Civil war and commanded at Fortress Mon- 
roe at the time Jefferson Davis was a pris- 
oner there. Mr. Partridge was soon re- 
leased and returned to Washington, the 
object of his mission not accomplished. 

After the Mexican war Mr. Partridge 
came to Illinois and located 0[i a farm in 
Kendall county, where he made iiis home 
some seven or eigiit years. At the age of 
sixteen he began the study of law in Albany, 
New York, with Chancellor Kent, and after- 
ward read in the office of Franklin Pierce, 
of Concord, New Hampshire, later presi- 
dent of the United States. On coming to 
Illinois he continued his studies and finished 
under the tutelage of Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, 
of Chicago. On admission to the bar he 
began practice in Sandwich, Illinois, to 
which city he removed about 1857. He 
always took an active interest in politics 
and was originally a Democrat, but left that 
organization on the birth of the Republican 
party. During the famous debates of Doug- 
las and Lincoln he attended many of their 
meetings and once entertained both of them 
at his home at the same time. He told 
Douglas frankly that he could not support 
his latest principles, and stumped the north- 
ern part of the state for Lincoln. 

In 1849, while still a resident of Kendall 
county, he was in command of a company 
of militia. At the outbreak of the Civil war. 



he was commissioned by Cio\errior Yates 
captain of Company E, Thirteenth Illinois 
Volimteer Infantry, to take rank as the sen- 
ior captain of the state of Illinois and 
served with distinction for three j'ears. He 
was rapidly promoted, being commissioned 
as major of his regiment, in June, 1861. 
In December, i86j, he was promoted lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and lime 18, 1864, colonel, 
for gallant service at Lookout Mountain, 
and after the battle of Ringgold Gap was 
breveted brigadier-general for distinguished 
braverj'at Missionary Ridge. At Chickasaw 
Bayou, Mississippi, he was wounded and 
again at Chattanooga, and also at Ringgold 
Gap, Georgia. With his regiment he was 
mustered out of service July 18, 1864. 

After his discharge, General Partridge 
resumed the practice of law at Sandwich, 
Illinois, and also for some years had an 
office at 52 Lake street, Chicago. He 
served as postmaster of Sandwich for sev- 
eral years and was occupyin':^ that official 
position when elected clerk of the circuit 
court of De Kalb county, at which time he 
removed to Sycamore, Illinois. On the ex- 
piration of his term of office, he was ap- 
pointed in the spring of 1869, by President 
U. S. Grant, as United States consul gen- 
eral to Bangkok, Siam, serving eight years. 
During his incumbency, he traveled much, 
made copious notes and at retirement wrote 
a voluminous account of his tra\'els, exper- 
iences and observations in Siam, the manu- 
script unfortunately being lost in the de- 
struction of his residence by fire. 

On one of his excursions he saved the 
life of a j'oung man, by shooting his mur- 
derous pursuers. It chanced to be the son 
of the King of Siam that he saved, and 
the King became his fast friend, sending 
him many presents and offering him gold 



IHE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



I// 



medals, etc., which owing to his official po- 
sition, had at that time to be refused, hut 
when offered later, after his term of office 
had e.xpired, were accepted and are treasured 
relics of his life in Asia. 

At one time Kint; of Cliieiigmai, of mie 
of the tribes of Siam, l)ecanie hostile to 
Christians, killing native converts and send- 
ing the missionaries from the country. 
General Partridge insisted of the King of 
Siam that the persecutions of his tributary 
prince should cease, under threat of the 
United States recognizing the latter's in- 
dependence. A treaty was then signed, 
granting greater freedom than ever to 
Christian missionaries. The consul's firm 
stand and successful fight for religious free- 
dom gained for the United States more re- 
spect than had ever been i<nown before in 
southern Asia. 

During histravelsGeneral Partridge \isit- 
ed many places of umisual interest, but none 
greater than the famous temple, Nakon-Wat, 
one of the wonders of tiie world. On lay- 
ing down the cares of office in July, 1876, 
he returned home b}' way of Singapore and 
the Suez canal, traveled over Europe and 
reached home in October, very tired from 
travel and sightseeing. ,\fter a few }ears of 
private life, in 1882, the General was again 
called to official duties, being appointed 
special e.xaininer of pensions, with head- 
quarters at Rushville, Indiana, and Tiffin, 
Ohio. He resigned in 1889, since which 
time he has been living a retired life. 

In 1852, General Partridge was united 
in marriage with Miss Mary Pauline, a na- 
tive of East Aurora, Erie county. New 
York, by whom he had si.\ children, only 
one, Frederick P., now living. His daugh- 
ter, Blanche, who was a graduate of Elmira 
College, New York, died February 22, 1898. 



She was a great help to her father, attend- 
ing to his manuscript and correspondence. 
She had fine talents as a painter, many 
samples of her work being treasured by our 
subject. Mrs. Partridge died Septend)cr 
20, 1882. 

General Partridge has his hciu-e filK d 
with curios and relics from se\eral conti- 
nents. His recollections of General Grant 
are very pleasant. While on his special 
mission during the Mexican war, at Yera 
Cruz, he first met the General, and there 
dined with him. Later he was instrumental 
in securing the commission lor Grant at the 
beginning of the Civil war, when his ap- 
pointment hung in the balance. Grant 
remembered his face and recalled meeting 
him at Yera Cruz. When elected president, 
he did not forget his friend General Part- 
ridge. 



HON. HENRY M. I50ARDMAN, of 
Shabbona, Illinois, is one of the enter- 
prismg and representatixe farmers and 
business men of De Kalb county, owning 
and operating two well improved farms jn 
Paw Paw township. His settlement in 
Illinois dates from the fall of 1854 and in 
De Kalb county since 1856. He is a native 
of the Green Mountain state, born in Rut- 
land county, December 12, 1831, and is the 
son of Captain Charles G. Boardman, a na- 
tive of the same county and state, and the 
grandson of Timothy Boardman, a native of 
Connecticut, who served on board a man- 
of war during the Revolution. By trade he 
was a ship carpenter. The Boardman 
family are of English descent, the first of 
the name coming to this country locating 
near Hartford, Connecticut. 

Captain Charles G. lloardman, the f,i- 



178 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ther of our subject, gained his title by ser\- 
ice in the mihtia of Vermont. He was mar- 
ried in his native state, to Submit Wati<ins, 
also a native of Vermont, and a daughter of 
Colonel Watkins, a soldier of the Revolu- 
tionary war and one of the prominent men 
of Rutland, Vermont. In his native state 
Captain Boardman spent his entire life. He 
was a man highly honored and respected by 
all who knew him. 

Henry M. Boardman, our subject, grew 
to manhood in \'ermont, and had good 
common-school advantages, supplemented 
by one term in a select school at Manches- 
ter, Vermont. After his education was 
completed, he was a teacher for two winter 
terms in his nati\e state. In the fall of 
1854 he came to Illinois, and stopped for a 
time at Joliet, where he joined a sister, 
then residing there. For some fifteen 
months he traxeled through the northern 
part of Illinois, and in the spring of 1856 
came to De Kalb county, and purchased 
one hundred and eighty acres of partially 
improved land in Paw Paw township, upon 
which a small house had been erected. Re- 
turning to Vermont on the 6th of I'ebruary, 
1856, in -the city of Rutland, he married 
Miss Caroline Chatterton, a native of that 
state, reared and educated at Rutland, and 
the daughter of Deacon Waite Chatterton, 
who was of an old Vermont famil}-. Im- 
mediately after marriage, he returned with 
his bride and they at once began their 
domestic life on the farm which was their 
home for many years after. He later bought 
forty acres adjoining, and still later si.xty 
acres more, making a fine farm of two hun- 
dred and eighty acres. This farm he im- 
proved in a most substantial manner, mak- 
ing of it one of the best in the township. 
As his means increased, he purchased an- 



other farm in the same township, of one 
hundred and fifty-four acres, which is also 
a well improved place. He now owns four 
hundred and thirty-four acres in Paw Paw 
township, .\fter nearly thirty years of hard 
labor upon the farm, Mr. Boardman moved 
to the village of Shabbona in the spring of 
1885, and is now living a retired life. In 
addition to his farms in Paw Paw township, 
he owns two hundred acres of improved 
land in Pocahontas county, Iowa, near 
Pomeroy Station. 

Mrs. Boardman died in 1866, leaving 
one daughter, Frances, now the wife of 
George Hyde, of Paw Paw. For his sec- 
ond wife, November 18, 1S68, Mr. Ijoard- 
man married Miss Christiana Posvers, a na- 
tive of La Salle count)', Illinois, and a 
daughter of Norman H. Powers, who was 
an earh' settler of De Kail) county, where 
the early life of Mrs. Boardman was spent, 
but who was then residing in La Salle 
county. Mrs. Boardman, after attending 
the public schools of De Kalb and La Salle 
counties, co.npleted her education in the 
State Normal School at Normal, Illinois. 
By this union there are four children. I-^llen 
is a joung lady residing at home. After 
attending the schools of Shabbona, she 
spent two years at school in .^nu Arbor, 
and is now one of the successful teachers 
of De Kalb county. Norman H. and Cath- 
erine S. are twins, and, after graduating at 
the High School of Shabbona, are now at- 
tending school at Ann Arbor, Michigan. 
Charles W., after completing the course at 
the High School at Shabbona, engaged in 
farm work, and is assisting in carrying on 
the home farm. 

Mr. and Mrs. Boardman and family are 
members of the Congregational church at 
Shabbona. Both parents are active workers 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



179 



in tiic church and Sunday scliodl. Mr. 
Boardman being one of the trustees of the 
church and teacher of the Bible class, hav- 
ing had charge of the I5ible class since 
his removal to the village. Politically he 
is a lifelong Republican, and in 1S56 
cast his first presidential ballot for John 
C. Fremont, the first presidential nominee 
of the jiarty. He has always taken an 
active part in local politics, and served 
as assessor of his township for eight years, 
and as supervisor for hve years, serving 
as chairman of some of the most import- 
committees of the board. In 1882 he was 
elected a member of the legislature, and 
served one term. He was a member of the 
agricultural and other committees. He has 
been a steadfast friend of education and the 
public schools, and served some years as a 
member of the school board while in the 
country, and since his removal to the village 
has continued such service, being one year 
president of the board. He has always made 
an efficient officer in whatever position he 
has been asked to fall. 

Mr. Boardman commenced life in Illi- 
nois in very limited circumstances, but he 
was industrious and methodical, and, toil- 
ing early and late, he has secured a compe- 
tence that enables him to live in ease and 
retirement during the remainder of his days. 
His long residence in this section of the 
state has brought him in contact with many 
people, and wherever and by whoever 
known he is held in the highest respect. 



REV. MAGNUS FRYKMAN, pastor of 
the Swedish Evangelical Lutlieran 
Salem church, Sycamore, Illinois, was born 
in Sweden, pru\ince of W'crmland, parish of 
Sunne, October 3, i S44. He is the son of 



Lars and Chiistina (Olson) Frykman, both 
natives of the same province and country. 
The family were old residents of that town. 
By occupation the father was a farmer and 
for years was in the public service, con- 
nected with the courts. Both he and his 
wife have been deceased for many years. 
The Olson family were also agriculturalists, 
and all were members of the Lutheran 
church. Lars and Christina Frykman were 
the parents of nine children: Olof, Carrie, 
Mary, Christina, Cajsa, John, Nels, Mag- 
nus, and Catherine. The four oldest are 
deceased, while the living all reside in this 
country, except Cajsa. John and Nels are 
lixing in Minnesota. Catherine married 
Joseph Lind and is living in Sjxamore. 

The subject of this biography was par- 
tially educated in Sweden. He came to this 
country in 1873, and entered the seminary 
at Paxton, Illinois, the institution being 
shortly afterwards removetl to Rock Island, 
and is now known as the Aiigustana College. 
He was graduated there in 1875, and on 
June 27, of that year, at Vasa, Minnesota, 
was ordained to the ministery. His first 
charge was at Chariton, Iowa, where he re- 
mained five years. From there he wet t to 
Marinette, Wisconsin, where he remained 
three years. His next move was to Repub- 
lic, Michigan, and after remaining there for 
about three years, he came to Sycamore, 
and took charge of the Swedish Lutheran 
church, December 22, 1885. 

Since coming to Sycamore Mr. Fryk- 
man has largely increased the membership. 
On taking charge of the church there were 
about three hundred communicants, and it 
now numbers ovi r five hundred, wiih a 
membership of about eight hundred. In 
the summer of 1896 he began the erection of 
the new church edifice, and it was dedicated 



i8o 



Tin: lUOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Fcbruarv j8, i8ij7, at a cost of over sixteen 
thousand dollars. It is located on the cor- 
ner of Somanaiik and Charles streets, and is 
one of the finest church buildings in the 
city, being constructed entirely of stone. .\t 
the dedication services they seated about 
one thousand persons, although the building 
was not intended to seat but about five hun- 
dred. The Congregation was organized 
.\pril 4, iS-o, by Rev. A. Hult, of De Kalb. 
He was succeeded by Rev. N. Norilgren, 
who in turn was succeeded by lve\-. S. G. 
Larson, who was the first to locate perma- 
nently in Sycamore. He was succeeded by 
Mr. Fryktnan, who is yet in charge of the 
church. The\' have a Sunday school of 
about one hundred members, and Mr. Fryk- 
man conducts one in the country at the Lin- 
dahl schoolhousi, of about forty scholars 
which he visits occasionally. 

Mr. Frykman was united in marriage 
December 4, 1884, at Marinette, Wiscon- 
sin, to Amanda Odea, daughter of Emanuel 
and Gustave (Anderson) Olson. Her parents 
were from Sweden, where Mrs. Frykman was 
born, and came to the United States in 
1873. They are yet li\'iug at Marinette, Wis- 
consin. To. Mr. and Mrs. Frykman seven 
children have been born — Reuben Eman- 
uel, Victor Laureutius, Conrad Theoph- 
ilus, Ruth Gustava Christina, Elmer Augus- 
tinues, Hildur Amanda Catherina and Carl 
Magnus. Of these, Reuben and Ruth are 
deceased. 

When in Chariton, Iowa, Mr. Frykman 
was a member of the Iowa conference, and 
served as secretary of the same for two 
years. He served as secretary of the Illi- 
nois conference three years, and in 1894 he 
was elected vice-president of the conference 
and on the president moving outside its 
jurisdiction he took charge as president, 



serving out llio term, and was then elected 
president, and has been re-elected every 
year since that time. This conference em- 
braces Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and the 
greater part of Wisconsin. Politically Mr. 
Frykman is a Republican, but is not a parti- 
san. He is an earnest and indefatigable 
Worker in ciiurch matters, is an able minis- 
ter and popular among bis people and also 
with the community. Much credit is due 
him in the building up of so large a congrega 
tion and the erection of such a fine church 
edifice. 



J 



OHX JOHNSON, a veteran of the war 
for the Union and a retired farmer, now 
resides in a beautiful home in the village of 
Malta. He was born in Sweden, March 2;, 
1820, and is the son of [ohn and Nellie 
Johnson, both natives of the same country, 
where they Ivied and died. In his native 
land our subject grew to manhood, and re- 
ceived a good common-school education. 
He emigrated to this country in 1854, arriv- 
ing in New York, August 11, where he re- 
mained three months, because of cholera 
being prevalent in Chicago at that time. In 
the fall of the same year he came to De Kalb 
county, Illinois, and located in the city of 
De Kalb, where he worked for the North- 
western Railway Company until the out- 
break of the Civil war. In August, 1862, 
his patriotism was so aroused as to cause 
him to offer his services to his adopted 
<;oimtry, and he was enrolled as a member 
of Company K, One Hundred and Fifth Illi- 
nois \ olunteer Infantry, for three years, 
unless sooner discharged. He served under 
Captain Austin and Colonel Dustin, was with 
Sherman on his march to the sea, and was 
in all the important engagements of that 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



i8[ 



ineiiiorable c;inipaign. After serving faith- 
fully until the end of the war, he was hon- 
orably discharged at Washington, D. C. 
He also participated in the celebrated grand 
review at Washington city. 

Returning to De Kalb Mr. |ohnson was 
again employed bv the Northwestern Rail- 
way Company', in whose employ he remain- 
ed ten years, during which time he pur- 
chased a farm of eighty acres, which he im- 
proved as the opportunity was afforded him. 
In 1875 he removed to the farm, and con- 
tinued to add to his other improvements by 
fencing, tiling and building. On this farm 
he toiled for twenty years, confining himself 
to no special line, but engaged in general 
farming. In 1896 he purchased four lots in 
Malta, erected a beautiful house, into which 
he moved with his family, and is now living 
a retired life, while his son, C. O., is work- 
ing the farm in Malta township. 

In 1866, Mr. Johnson married Mrs. Mary 
Ann Johnson, widow of Alexander Johnson, 
and a native of Norway, born October 3, 
1840, and who, at the age of twelve years, 
came with her parents to this country, the 
family mo\ing to De Kalb county, Illinois, 
where her father died in March, 1855, her 
mother long surviving him, dying October 8, 
1890. By her former husband, Mrs. John- 
son had one child, which died soon after 
her marriage with her present husband. 
They are the parents of four sons, C. O., 
Louis, Frank A. and Amos. The son Louis 
has purchased a farm of eighty acres, in 
Milan township, on which he now resides. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of 
the Lutheran church, and were married by 
a Lutheran minister at Chicago. From the 
general government he receives a small 
pension for his faithfulness to his adopted 
country in her da3's of need. 



A X r MOTT GOBLE resides on section 
V V 19, Paw Paw township, where he 
has a farm of two hundred and twenty-five 
acres of valuable land. He was born in 
Lee county, Illinois, January 14, 1847, and 
is the son of Timothy Goble, a native of 
Pennsylvania, born in Luzerne county, in 
1808. The paternal grandfather, Ezekiel 
Goble, was a pioneer of that county, and 
there Timothy grew to manhood and mar- 
ried Elizabeth Ayers, a native of the county, 
where she was reared and educated. By 
trade Timothy Goble was a carpenter and 
joiner, which occupation he followed in his 
nati\e state. In 1843, he came to Illinois, 
and located in Lee county, in the same school 
district where the son now resides. Entering 
eighty acres of land, he at once commenced 
to open up a farm, and later entered fifty 
acres more, giving him a farm of one hun- 
dred and thirty acres, on which he resided 
a number of years, then sold and purchased 
alarm in Paw Paw township, De Kalb coun- 
ty, on which the last years of his life were 
spent. His wife survives him and is yet in 
the enjoyment of good health. Their fam- 
ily consisted of three sons and three daugh- 
ters. Esther married John Brown, but is 
now deceased. Orella married Jacob Rad- 
ley, and they reside at Earl, Illinois. Ayres 
resides at Ayres, Nebraska, where he is 
engaged in the grain business. W. Mott is 
the subject of this sketch. E. T. is a phy- 
sician residing in Earl. Illinois. Mary is 
the wife of Augustus Ricker, of Paw Paw, 
Illinois. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in the vicinity of his present residence, 
spending his bo) h iod and youth in labor 
upon the farm, and in attending the common 
schools. He enlisted October 8, 1 864, when 
seventeen years old, becoming a member of 



lS2 



Till': inOGRAl'lIlCAL RliCORU. 



('oiii|iaiiy I), 'l'liirl\ -fiuirlli llliiKiis X'oluii- 
leei [iifaiitiy, joiiiiiii; liif rL',t;iir,eiit .1! 
(Joldsboni. North ( arolina, and serving; 
with It to the close of the war. He was 011 
detaclied duty and was in several battles be- 
fore joininj; the regiment, among which was 
the battle of Nashville, and the skirmish at 
Raleigh, North Carolina. When he joined the 
regiment at Goldsboro it was with Sherman 
in his last campaign. From that place it 
Continued on to Washington, and was in 
the grand review. Our subject was dis- 
charged in Louissdlle, and mustered out in 
Chicago, July 17, 1S65. 

Returning to his home, Mr. Goble re- 
mained uniler the parental roof and assisted 
his father until he arrived at mature \-ears. 
He then bought a farm in Wyoming town- 
ship, Lee county, a place of one hundred 
and thirty acres, on which he settled and 
there resided for several years. During 
that time he purchased the farm where he 
now resides, and owned other land in addi- 
tion. He located on his present farm in 
1883, since which time he has been engaged 
in general farming and feeding stock. He 
has on the place an average of one hundred 
head of cattle and about three hundred 
hogs, being one of the largest feeders and 
shippers in the western part of De Kalb 
county, shipping annually from ten to fif- 
teen cars of stock. 

Mr. Goble was married in Lee county, 
Illinois, December 25, 1868, to Miss Susan 
Robinson, a native of Lee county, and a 
daughter of Benjamin K. Robinson, an 
early settler of Lee county, but who later 
removed to California. By this union 
there has been eight children. I^enjamin 
Fred is now a member of the First Illinois 
Cavalry, under General Ward, and in the 
snnimer of iSgSwas stationed at Chicka- 



mauga awaiting urdi.'rs In gn tuC'iba. Lil- 
lian is a young lady of good eiiucalioii, iia\- 
inu; attended the schools a( Paw Haw and 
the college at I_)ixon, Illinois. She is now 
a teacher in the ]iub]ic schools of Lee coun- 
ty. Viola is a student in the Paw Paw 
schools. Bertha is also a student of the 
Paw Paw schools. ('lifford, |. Ward, Elsie 
and Glenn are at home. 

Politically Mr. Goble is a I\epublican. 
his first presidential \ote being cast in 1 868 
for General Grant. He is now serving his 
third term as commissioner of highways, 
and his second term as treasurer of the 
board. For eighteen years he has been a 
member of the school board, thus showing 
his interest in popular education. Frater- 
nally he is a member of Paw Paw I_,odge, I. 
O. O. F., and has passed through all the 
chairs and served eight years as lodge dep- 
uty. He is also a member of the encamp- 
ment of that order, being past chief patri- 
arch of the camp at Paw Paw. His inter- 
est in military affairs is shown by his mem- 
bership in William H. Thompson Post, No. 
308, G. A. R., of Paw Paw, of which he has 
been a commander for the past two years. 
In every matter pertaining to the best inter- 
ests of his adopted county he is always 
found 1)11 the side of right. 



HORATIO H. MASON, capitalist, of 
Sycamore, Illinois, is pre-eminently a 
self-made man. He began life with a defi- 
nite purpose in view, worked faithfully and 
honestly, and with a will for its accomplish- 
ment, and now enjoys a reputation that is 
l)y no means limited to the boundaries of ihe 
state. There are three distinct families of 
Masons in America, but who are not, as 




H. H. MASON. 




MRS. H. H. MASON. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



187 



erroneously supposed, descended from the 
traditional " three brothers who came over 
at a very early date. " The three progen- 
iters of the Mason family in America were 
of different religious belief and came at dif- 
ferent times. John Mason of Puritan stock 
came in 1630, first settled in Massachusetts, 
and later moved to the Connecticut Colony. 
He was a man of no little prominence, and 
was a principal factor in settling the Piquod 
war. Sampson Mason is the progenitor of 
the family of which our subject is a worth}- 
representative. Colonel George Mason, an 
Episcopalian, and a member of the English 
parliament, was third of the name to estab- 
lish a family in America. He was a mem- 
ber of the royal army and colonel of 
cavalry under Charles Stuart, afterwards 
Charles H. After the battle of Worcester, 
which ruined the hopes of Charles H, 
George Mason escaped in disguise, reached 
Norfolk, Virginia, settled in that province, 
and established a family that was prominent 
in colonial affairs during the Revolutionary 
war, as well as in the early struggles of the 
young republic. One of the number was a 
signer of the Declaration of Independence. 
Sampson Mason, known as the Baptist 
officer in Cromwell's army, probably a mem- 
ber of the old ironsides regiment and a rad- 
ical, immigrated to America, about 1650, 
prior to Cromwell's defeat. He settled at 
Rehoboth, Massachusetts, and although 
owning property at Swansea, which he was 
instrumental in establishing, never removed 
there. In earlier generations the family 
lived in Rhode Island, or Massachusetts, 
near the border. One of the founders of 
Swansea became a man of substance and 
one of the proprietors of the "North Pur- 
chase," afterwards the town of Attleboro. 
He advanced thirteen pounds, five shillings 



and ten pence for the prosecution of King 
Phillips War, which amount was voted to 
his wife alter his death just at the close of 
the war. Sampson Mason died in Reho- 
both, and was buried September 15, 1676. 
He married Mary Buttervvorth, who died 
August 29, I 714. 

To Sampson Mason and wife thirteen 
children were born, of whom Peletiah was 
eleventh. He was born in 1669, married 
May 22, 1699, Hepzibah Brooks, daughter 
of Timothy and Mary (Russell) Brooks. 
The latter was a daughter of Elder John 
Russell, Sr. , a noted divine of the colony. 
Peletiah Mason died March 29, 1763, at the 
age of ninety-four years. He was the last 
of six brothers, all of whom attained sev- 
enty years or over. Three of the sons of 
Peletiah Mason were ministers. Job, Rus- 
sell and John were successively ministers of 
the Second Baptist church of Swansea, 
Massachusetts. According to old records. 
Job was a minister for over forty-seven 
years and was thirty-seven years an elder. 
Rev. Russell, ninth in a family of ten chil- 
dren, was pastor of the Baptist church at 
Swansea over forty years. He was boru 
April 21, 1 7 14, and married Rhoda Kings- 
le}', June 5, 1736, by whom he had thirteen 
children, of whom Phillip was fifth. The 
latter, born January 29, 1745, married Mary 
Scott, born in March, 1745. Of their 
twelve children, Russell was second. He 
was born in Providence, Rhode Island, 
February 25, 1769, and married Ruth Lap- 
ham, born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, 
April 4, 1769. He removed to Fairfield, 
Herkimer county. New York, in 1794, 
where he owned a large timber tract, which 
he cleared and converted into a fine farm, 
but later moved to Warren, New York. 
Hiram, seventh in the family of nine chil- 



1 88 



THE lUOr.RAPHICAL RECORD 



drcn born to Russell aiui Ruth Masuii, was 
born in the town of Warren, Herkimer 
countj', New York, September 17, 1805. 
Hiram Mason, an active, trading, business 
man, pushed his speculations in real estate 
into the state of Michigan, where on one of 
his numerous trips, he died September 14, 
1835, and was followed five months later, 
Februar}- 29, 1836, by his wife, who was a 
Miss Fannie Brown. She was born in Ger- 
man Flats, Herkimer county. New York. 
August 9, 1808, and was the daughter of 
Henry and Wealthy (Able) Brown, both of 
whom were natives of Colchester, Connec- 
ticut. The former died at the age of si.xty- 
three years, while residing in his native 
county. 

The Masons seem to have all been men 
of strong physical and mental attamments, 
men of energy and brains, resourceful, inde- 
pendent and sell-reliant. Of such stock 
sprung Horatio H. Mason, thesubject of this 
sketch. Born in the tmvn of Warren, Herki- 
mer county. New York, February 19,1829, he 
was left an orphan at the age of seven years, 
and was reared in the family of his grand- 
father Brown, and an uncle. At a very 
early age he became self-supporting, receiv- 
ing before ten years of age, six and eight 
dollars per month for his services on the 
farm, while many other boys received only 
their board and clothes and very little of the 
latter. At the age of seventeen he went to 
Culpeper county, Virginia, seeking his for- 
tune in the South. Being recommended by 
an acquaintance to a merchant in the Shen- 
endoah Valley, he was told that if he would 
break a certain colt to ride that he would 
be sent on a collecting lour. Having been 
familiar all his life with horses, the task 
was an easy one. So successful was he in 
collecting that he was given a position as 



clerk in the store, and there remained two 
years. 

Returning to Herkimer county. New 
York, in the village of Little Lakes, Febru- 
ary 28, 1850, Mr. Mason was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary E. Treadway, 
who was born in the town of Warren, New 
York, April 18, 1832. She was the daugh- 
ter of Belia and Philotheta (Marshall) 
Treadway. Her father was an attorney 
and the son of David Treadway, a farmer, 
who was one of the pioneers of Herkimer 
county. Her mother was a daughter of 
John Marshall, who died at the age of 
ninet)'-seven years, and who was so clear of 
mind and strong of body that he was able 
to transact business up to the date of his 
death. 

About two years after his marriage Mr. 
Mason came west, traveling through parts 
of Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois, with a 
view of location. He finally decided upon 
Sycamore, Illinois, and in the spring of 
1853 located here and had his family join 
him. He purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres, where his residence now stands, and 
began housekeeping in a log cabin, long 
since removed. The place he began imme- 
diately to improve, planting an orchard and 
ornamental trees and in due time erecting a 
large and commodious dwelling. All the 
ornamental trees around the place to-day 
were planted by him, with the e.xception of 
a few locust trees, which were standing near 
the cabin when purchased. Much of the 
original farm has since been platted, lots 
have been sold, and many comfortable 
homes erected. 

Soon after locating in Sycamore our 
subject began speculating in land, buying 
and selling at a profit, and soon accumu- 
lated considerable propert}- for that early 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



189 



day. His good judgment of values, and his 
watchfulness as to the time when sales 
should be made, enabled him at all times 
to place the balance on the right side of the 
ledger. At various times during the last 
forty -five years he has owned seven or eight 
thousand acres of land in Illinois and nearlj* 
half as many in Iowa. In 1871, with James 
S. Waterman, he established the First Na- 
tional Bank, of Sycamore, the first institu- 
tion of the kind in De Ivalb county. He was 
elected vice-president and given the entire 
management of the bank. In 1875 h^ sold 
his stock and severed all connections with 
the bank. He later became a stockholder 
in the Sycamore lS: Cortland Railroad and 
assisted in its promotion and construction. 
For some years he was in the abstract busi- 
ness as a junior member of the firm of 
Bailey & Mason. He is now living retired 
from all business with the exception of the 
inanagement of his financial and real estate 
interests, to which he gives his exclusive at- 
tention. 

Mrs. Mason departed this life in Syca- 
more August 25, 1882, having been the 
mother of four children, two of whom died 
in infancy. The living are Florence and 
Maude M. The former married Walter 
Loomis, who is engaged in the real estate 
business in De Kalb county with our sub- 
ject, and they make their home on the old 
homestead in Sycamore. They have three 
sons, Mason Walter, Samuel Colby and 
Harold Herbert. The second daughter, 
Maude M., married Horace H. Holladay 
and they have one daughter, Virginia. 
Their home is in Cairo, Illinois, where Mr. 
Holladay is engaged in business. 

In politics Mr. Mason is a Repulilican, 
but with the exception of one term as alder- 
man he has steadfastly refused to accept 



office. He is a man of strong personality, 
keen perception and possesses great busi- 
ness acumen. He is a citizen of sterling 
worth and through his own exertions he has 
attained an honorable position and marked 
prestige among the representative men of 
De Ivalb county, and with signal consistency 
it may be said that he is the architect of his 
own fortunes and one whose success amply 
justifies the application of the somewhat 
hackneyed but most expressive title "a self 
made man. " His youthful dreams of success 
have been realized and in their happy ful- 
fillment he sees the fitting reward of his 
earnest toil. 



WELLS A. FAY, deceased, was num- 
bered among the very earliest of 
the pioneers of De Kalb county, locating 
here in 1836. He was born in Onondago 
county. New York, November 13, 1S14, 
and was the son of Jonathan and Rhoda 
(White) Fay, the former a native of Massa- 
chusetts and the latter of Vermont. In his 
native state he grew to manhood, and when 
twenty-two years of age came to De Kalb 
county and took up a claim of land in 
Squaw Grove township, comprising some 
three hundred acres, which he entered and 
purchased after it came into market. A 
portion of this land he later sold. On mak- 
ing the claim he at once commenced to im- 
prove the place by the erection of a cabin 
and the breaking of the prairie land. The 
cabin was afterwards replaced with a good, 
comfortable residence, and with the various 
outbuildings erected, together with other 
improvements, he made a farm that com- 
pared well with any of the excellent farms 
in Squaw Grove township. 

On the 8th of June, 1842, he married 



igo 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Miss Harriett K. Lay, a native of Connecti- 
cut, ami a daughter of Samuel H. and Em- 
ily (Pratt) Lay, both of whom were also 
natives of Connecticut, the former born 
in 1/95 ''"'' the latter in 1800. In 
1842 Mr. "Lay came west and settled on a 
farm in De Kalb county where his last days 
were spent, he dying in 1861, while his 
wife, who survived him a few 3'ears, died 
in 1869. In their family were five daugh- 
ters and one son, of whom Mrs. Fay was 
the oldest. One of their daughters, Julia, 
is now the wife of Oscar Whitson, of State 
Center, Iowa. The son, James H. Eay, 
is a farmer now residing in Newport, Ne- 
braska. Mrs. Fay was reared and educated 
in Connecticut, and for one year after her 
arrival in De Kalb county, she engaged in 
teaching. To Mr. and Mrs. Fay five chil- 
dren were born. Emma S. grew to 
womanhood, married Rev. S. P. Gates, a 
minister of the Presbyterian church, and 
they moved to Pennsylvania, where she 
later died leaving one daughter, Sarah. 
Jennie is the wife of E. P. Gardiner, a 
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this 
volume. .*\lcott N. married and is also en- 
gaged in farming in De Kalb county. He 
has a family of two sons and one daughter, 
and has lost one son. Ida is the wife of L. 
J. Lamson, who is a member of the Board 
of Trade of Chicago. Ashley H. died at 
the age of seven years. 

In politics Mr. Fay was a Republican, 
and while he never desired public office, he 
was elected and served some years as jus- 
tice of the peace. He took quite an inter- 
est in educational matters and was elected 
and served as school trustee for some years. 
In his early life he was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, but in later 
life was converted to the Adventist faith, 



although he continued to attend the Method- 
ist church. His wife was a consistent mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at 
Hinckley. 

In 1882 Mr. Fay rented his farm, pur- 
chased residence property to which he re- 
moved and lived a retired life until his 
death October f, 1897. He was a man 
well known and universally esteemed 
wherever known. Since his death Mrs. 
Fay has bought other residence property in 
Hinckley where she resides and where her 
many friends always receive a hearty wel- 
con.e. 



BENJAMIN F. UPLINGEK, dealer in 
lumber, grain, coal, lime, salt, flour 
and feed, is one of Kingston's li\e business 
men. He was born in Butler township, 
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, September 
10, 1859, and is the son of John and Eliz- 
abeth (Wood) Uplinger, both natives of 
the same state. John Uplinger was a 
butcher, a business which he carried on in 
connection with farming, and was an active 
and prosperous business man. He re- 
moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois, with 
his family, in 1866, locating in Kingston 
township, De Kalb county, where he pur- 
chased three hundred and twenty acres of 
improved land, and added to that several 
other farms, which he disposed of at dif- 
ferent times. He was a keen-sighted busi- 
ness man, and was usually in advance of 
his time. He retained two hundred acres 
up to the time of his death, which oc- 
curred October 6, 1893. His wife fol- 
lowed him in July, 1897. They were the 
parents of thirteen children, all of whom 
grew to maturity, and twelve now Ii\ing. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORI 



lyi 



Benjamin F. Uplinger was in his seventh 
year when he came with his parents to 
Kingston township. His boyhood and 
youth were spent upon the home farm, and 
his education was obtained in the common 
schools of Kingston. He remained with 
his parents until he was twenty-four years 
of age, when he removed to Kansas, where 
he took up a claim of one hundred and sixty 
acres, as a homestead, also took up a tree 
claim of one hundred and si.xty acres, which 
he now owns. His stay in Kansas lasted 
but two years, and on his return to Kings- 
ton he took his place on the home farm, 
where he reniained three years, at which 
time he removed to the village of Kingston, 
and May 20, 1891, he entered upon his 
present line of business. 

On the 3d of December, 1886, Mr. Up- 
linger was united in marriage with Miss Cal- 
purnia Littrell, a native of Salem, Virginia, 
born March 26, 1867. By this union two 
children have been born: Leon O., Au- 
gust 21, 1888; and Alfred R., January 13, 
1893. Mr. and Mrs. Uplinger are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which 
he is an official member. He has been 
honored by his townsmen by his election to 
the presidency of the village board for two 
years. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and also of the Knights of the 
Globe. No man stands higher in the esti- 
mation of the people of Kingston. He is 
active in business, and falls in line with 
every modern improvement and scheme 
which benefits man and adds value to his 
labor. He has greatly at heart the build- 
ing up of Kingston, a fact which is attested 
by his own commodious business estabUsh- 
ment. His grain trade amounts to about 
two hundred and fifty cars per annum. Po- 
litically he is a Democrat. 



HENRY CLAPS ADDLE, who for forty- 
six years has been a resident of De Kalb 
county, is now living a retired life in the 
village of Shabbona. He is a native of 
Herkimer county, New York, born January 
I, 1827, and is the son of Dennis Clap<ad- 
dle, a native of the same state, born in 1774, 
and a grandson of Major Clapsaddle, who 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, in 
which he held a major's commission. The 
Clapsaddles are of German ancestry, the 
family being among the early settlers of 
New York. Dennis Clapsaddle grew to 
manhood in his native county and state, and 
there married Elizabeth Frank, also a na- 
tive of Herkimer count}', and a daughter 
of Squire Frank, of the same county and 
a soldier of the Revolutionary war. By 
occupation Dennis Clapsaddle was a farmer, 
and spent his entire life in agricultural pur- 
suits in Herkimer county, dying there in 
1842. His wife survived him some twenty 
years, dying in 1862. They were the par- 
ents of five sons and six daughters, all of 
whom grew to mature years and married, 
our subject and three sisters being the sole 
survivors. 

In his native county Henr}- Clapsaddle 
spent his boyhood and youth on a farm, and 
there received a good common-school edu- 
cation. After his father's death he remained 
with his mother on the old farm until after 
he attained his majority. In 1852 he came 
west to De Kalb county, Illinois, where he 
joined an older brother, Michael Clapsaddle, 
who located here about 1847. He had, 
however, come to De Kalb county two years 
previoush' and purchased a tract of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres in Paw Paw town- 
ship, after which he returned to New York. 
He was married February 26, 1852, in 
Herkimer countv. New York, to Elizabeth 



t92 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



X. Cross, a native of Herkimer county and 
a daughter of Peter and Ora (Ingraham) 
Cross. 

Soon after his marriage Mr. Clapsaddle 
came to De Kail) county with his jtnmg 
bride, and made a permanent location on 
the farm which he had prexiously purchased. 
There was a log house on the place and in 
that they resided a few years while improve- 
ments were being made in the place. Later 
he built a good house and barn, made other 
improvements and there resided twelve years. 
In 1864 he sold that farm and purchased 
and improved one of two hundred acres in 
Shabbona township, which he further im- 
proved by the erection of a large and sub- 
stantial residence, barns and other outbuild- 
ings, and upon that farm he resided for 
twenty-eight years. In 1891 he rented the 
farm and in 1892 moved to the village of 
Shabbona, where he purchased lots and 
built a fine residence, which has since been 
his home. He has since sold the farm to 
his son, but owns one of one hundred and 
seventy acres near Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo 
county, Iowa, a well improved place. Mr. 
and Mrs. Clapsaddle are the parents of 
three children, the first born. Dean, dying 
in childhood. H. J. now owns and operates 
the old home farm. He married Ella Lane 
of De Kalb county. Delos D. is now mar- 
ried, owns and operates a farm in Cerro 
Gordo county, Iowa. He married Mary 
Smith, of De I\alb county, and they have 
two children, Guy and Clare. 

Pohtically Mr. Clapsaddle is a stanch 
Republican. Before the organization of 
that party he was a free soiler, and in 
1848 voted for Martin \'an Buren, the free 
soil candidate for president. On the or- 
ganization of the Republican party, and on 
account of his liberty lo\ing principles, he 



naturally drifted into it, and voted for its 
first presidential candidate, John C. Fre- 
mont, in 1856. He has never missed cast- 
ing his vote for the presidential nominee of 
the party, from that time to the present. 
He has ever taken an active interest in local 
politics, and was first elected commissioner 
of highways in Paw Paw township, serving 
as such until his removal to Shabbona town- 
ship. For eight consecutive years he 
served as supervisor of Shabbona township, 
a portion of which lime he served as chair- 
man of the committee on public printing, 
and was on various other committees. He 
also served as township trustee of Paw Paw, 
and has filled the same office in Shabbona 
township. In the various conventions of 
his party he usually serves as a delegate. 
Mr. and Mrs. Clapsaddle are members 
of the Congregational church in Shabbona, 
and he is a member of the official board, 
serving as trustee and deacon. Mrs. Clap- 
saddle is an active worker in the different 
church societies. Fraternally he is a Mason, 
first holding membership in the lodge at 
Paw Paw, into which he was initiated about 
1859. He is a charter member of the Blue 
lodge at Shabbona, and has served through 
all the chairs and has also represented his 
lodge in the grand lodge of the state. In 
whatever position he may be found every 
duty is faithfully discharged. He is a man 
greatly esteemed in the community where 
he has so long resided, and his friends are 
many throughout the county. 



EDWARD P. GARDINER, who resides 
^ on section 19, Squaw Grove township, 
where he operates a farm of two hundred 
and seventy acres, has been a resident of 
De Kalb county since 186S. He was born 



The biographical record. 



193 



in Middlesex county, Connecticut, July 29, 
1842, and is the son of Orrin Gardiner, also 
a native of Connecticut, born in 1810, and 
who grew to manhood in his native state, 
and married Cordelia Pratt, who was like- 
wise a native of Connecticut. By occupa- 
tion he was a farmer. In his native state 
he spent his entire life, dying in the spring 
of 1876, at the age of si.\ty-six years. His 
wife survived him, and died in Aurora, Illi- 
nois, in 1890. Their family consisted of 
two sons and two daughters. Emily grew 
to womanhood, married Dr. T. M. Triplett, 
and they reside in Lincoln, Nebraska. 
Henry W. resides in Brooklyn, New York, 
where he is engaged in business. Edwin P. 
is the subject of this review. Fanny C. 
married Horace M. Smith, a farmer, and 
they reside at Friend, Saline county, Ne- 
braska. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in his native county, where he received 
a good common-school education. When a 
young man of twenty, in August, 1862, he 
enlisted in Company C, Twentieth Connect- 
icut Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned 
to the Army of the Potomac, and later 
transferred to the Army of the Cumberland. 
With his regiment he participated in the 
battle of Chancellorsville, where he was shot 
through the right thigh and permanently 
disabled. From the battle-field he was sent 
to the hospital, where he lay for several 
months, and recovering was transferred to 
the veteran reserve corps, and was on guard 
duty at Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Roches- 
ter, New York, and later at Washington, D. 
C, and at the close of the war was guarding 
rebel prisoners at Elniira, New York. In 
July, 1865, he was honorably discharged 
and returned to his home in Connecticut. 
On returning home Mr. Gardiner worked 



on the farm and at such occupations as 
came to hand, and there remained until 
1868, when he came to De I\alb county, 
Illinois, and located at Sandwich, where he 
secured employment with the Sandwich 
Manufacturing Company, for thirteen years 
in the shipping department. He then had 
charge of the repair shops for some jears. 
On the 4th of October, 1869, he married 
Miss Jennie L. Fay, a native of De Kalb 
county, where she was reared and educated, 
and a daughter of Wells A. Fay, who was 
one of the fionored pioneers of the county, 
a sketch of whom appears in this work. By 
this union, three daughters have been born: 
Emma, wife of Jesse J. Nichols, now of 
Crowley county, Kansas; Hattie, who re- 
sides at home; and Ida, also at home. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Gardiner began their domestic life at Sand- 
wich, where they continued to reside until 
1882, when they moved to the farm, where 
they now reside, and where Mr. Gardiner 
has since been engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, in which he has been quite successfid 
as a general and dairy farmer. Politically, 
he is a Republican and cast his first presi- 
dential ballot for General IJ. S. Grant. 
Office holding has never been to his taste, 
and he has therefore never engaged in any 
scramble for public office. Both he and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church at Hinckley, in which he serves 
as one of the official board. He is a mem- 
ber of the G. A. R. Post at Sandwich, while 
Mrs. Gardiner is a member of the Woman's 
Relief Corps. They are also members of 
the Ivnights and Ladies of Security at 
Hinckley. He is well known in Somonauk 
township and the southern part of the coun- 
ty and has many warm friends, while Mrs. 
Gardiner, coming as she does from an old 



'94 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



pioneer family, is also well known and 
highly respected for her many womanly 
traits of character. 



JUDGE WILLIAM L. POND, attorney- 
at-law, and judge of the county court, 
is a resident of the city of De Kalb and is 
a lawyer of well established reputation, one 
of the truly representative members of the 
legal profession of De Kalb county. He 
was born in Genoa township, De Kalb coun- 
ty, Illinois, February ii, i860, and is the 
son of Americus H. and Amy N. (HoUem- 
beak) Pond, who were early settlers in this 
county, and whose sketch appears elsewhere 
in this volume. His boyhood and youth 
were spent upon the home farm, and his 
education was received in the district school 
and Genoa High School, from which he 
graduated June 10, 1881, in the first class 
graduating therefrom. He then taught the 
High School at Kirkland one year, an ex- 
perience to which he looks back with grati- 
tude. In his capacity as teacher he came 
in touch with Young America, in its gener- 
ally unsubdued state. He abandoned school 
teaching, however, for a vocation for which 
he was more aptly fitted, both by nature 
and education. Entering the law office of 
Lowell & Carnes, he remained with that 
firm one year and completed his course of 
studies with the firm of Carnes & Denton, 
of Sycamore. After passing a creditable 
examination before the supreme court of 
the state at Ottawa, Illinois, he was ad- 
mitted to the bar June 10, 1884, and com- 
menced the practice of law at De Kalb, in 
September of the same year. 

On November 9, 1887, Mr. Pond was 
united in marriage with Miss Alice E. Cole, 
a native of Kingston, Illinois, born April 21, 



i860, and a daughter of Marcus W. and 
Anna E. (Little) Cole, both of whom were 
natives of New York. [See sketch in an- 
other part of this work.] Mr. and Mrs. 
Pond have one child, a tlaughter, Jessie A., 
born November 4, 1S88, who is now attend- 
ing the schools of De Kalb. 

In May, 1886, Mr. Pond was elected 
city attorney of De Kalb, an office which he 
ably and conscientiously filled for eleven 
consecutive years, in the meantime serving 
one term on the board of education. In 
Januar)-, 1887, he formed a partnership 
with Judge Luther Lowell, which continued 
two years, having offices in Sycamore and 
De Kalb. He then practiced alone until 
January i, 1895, when he formed a part- 
nership with A. G. Kenned}-, who had just 
located in De Kalb. This partnership con- 
tinued until June, 1897, when it was dis- 
solved just prior to the election of Mr. Pond 
as county judge. At that time he was 
elected to fill a vacancy, and in the summer 
of 1898 he received the Republican nomi- 
nation to the office for the full term. 

Fraternally Judge Pond is a member of 
De Kalb Lodge, No. 144, A. F. & A. M., 
and also of De Kalb Chapter, No. 52, K. 
A. M., De Kalb Council, No. 81, and Syca- 
more Commandery, No. 15, K. T. Among 
other fraternal organizations of which he is 
a member are the Modern Woodmen of 
America, Royal Arcanum, Knights of the 
Globe, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and Knights of the Maccabees. Judge Pond 
is honored and esteemed, not only for his 
legal acumen and business ability, but for 
his sterling personal worth. Upright, re- 
liable and honorable, his strict adherence 
to principle commands the respect of all. 
He is a stanch Republican, adhering to the 
true principles of the part}', principles which 




JUDGE W. L. POND. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



197 



he has advocated since attaining his majority. 
He is a genial, cotirteons gentleman, a pleas- 
ant, entertaining companion, and has many 
admiring friends among all classes of men. 



ROBERT BOSTON is not only a pioneer 
of De Kalb countx'. wliere he has re- 
sided since 1S45, but is also a veteran of 
the Civil war. He is a native of Canada, 
born near London Fel)riiary 13, 1840. His 
father, Thomas I^oston, was a native of 
Scotlfmd, where he grew to manhood, emi- 
grating from that country to Canada where 
he opened up a farm, clearing it of timber 
and making a home in the wilderness. He 
there married Mary Ann Jones, a native of 
Canada, of Welsh parentage. In 1838 he 
came to Illinois and selected a location for 
a future residence and for a time worked on 
a farm and later on the dam at Di.xon, Illi- 
nois, the first dam built across Rock river. 
He later returned to Canada and there mar- 
ried, and in 1845 returned with his family 
and purchased a tract of one hundred and 
twenty acres of Mr. Ross. On com'ing here 
he resided for two or three years with the 
father of his wife, then built his residence, 
hauling the lumber from Chicago with an ox 
team. Fencing the place he commenced 
its improvement and later purchased one 
hundred and twenty acres additional, giving 
him a fine farm of two hundred and forty 
acres, on which he continued to reside dur- 
ing the remainder of his life, his death oc- 
curring in I 866 at the age of seventy-three 
years. His wife survives him and is now 
seventy-seven years old. Of their family 
of eight cinldren, seven grew to mature 
years and ii\'e are now living. 

Robert Boston grew to manhood on the 

home farm in Paw Paw township and was 
10 



educated in the district schools. He re- 
mained \\ith his father doing his share of 
the farm work until August 13, 1S61, when 
he enlisted in Company I, Fourth Illinois 
Cavalry, his regiment later being assigned 
to the Army of the Tennessee. With it he 
participated in the battles of F"ort Henry, 
Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, the siege of 
\'icksburg, the battles of Jackson, Black 
Ri\er and Coffeyville, together with a num- 
ber of minor engagements. At Shiloh he 
was struck by an exploded shell, his gun 
being shot away, but he only received a 
mere scratch on the ear, but he considered 
it quite a close call. He enlisted as a 
private and was appointed corporal and 
later sergeant, serving as such until the ex- 
piration of his term of service. He was dis- 
charged at Springfield, Illinois, November 8, 
1864, after serving about three years and 
three months. 

After receiving his discharge, Mr. Bos- 
ton returned home, and continued work 
with his father until the latter's death, when 
he purchased the interests of the other 
heirs and succeeded to the home place. 
He was married October 17, 1867, to Lucy 
S. Place, a native of New York, but reared 
and educated in Paw Paw township, and a 
daughter of George Place, one of the early 
settlers of De Kalb county. By this union 
there i-s one son living, R. Stanton, who is 
married and engaged in farming in Paw 
Paw township. They lost one daughter, 
Nettie, who died in 1886, at the age of 
seventeen years. 

Politically Mr. Boston is a stanch Re- 
publican, and has voted for every nominee 
of the party for president since he cast his 
ballot for Lincoln in 1S64. He was elected 
and served as township collector one term, 
for eight consecutive years has been assessor 



ipS 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the township, was township clerk two 
or three years, and also served as township 
treasurer. For some twenty years he 
served as school director, being clerk and 
president of the board at different times. He 
is a member of the Rollo Congregational 
church, in which he takes an active part, 
and fraternally he is a member of Shabbona 
Post, G. A. R. As a citizen he has done 
his full share in the development of his 
adopted county, and by one and all is held 
in the highest esteem. 



W INFIELD S. CLARK has a reputa- 
tion of being one of the best photog- 
raphers in northern Illinois. His gallery at 
Sycamore is well eciuipped for the produc- 
tion of every kind of photographic work, 
and he at all times keeps in touch with the 
latest improvements made. He is a native 
of New Milford, Illinois, born January i, 
1852, and is the son of James H. and Nancy 
M. (Horton) Clark, both of whom were na- 
tis'es of Ithica, New York. They came to 
Illinois in about NS38, settling at New Alill- 
ford, Winnebago county, where they en- 
gaged in farming. In politics he was an 
Abolitionist, but became a Republican on 
the organization of that part)-. His wife 
died at New Milford in 1873, while he sur- 
vived her some fifteen years, dying in -1888. 
They were the parents of three children: 
Charles M., Livonia C. and Winfield S. 
Livonia is now the wife of E. H. Mande- 
ville, and they reside in Fresno, California. 
The subject of this sketch lived at New 
Milford until he was ten years of age, when 
the family moved to Rockford, Illinois, where 
he grew to manhood and was educated in 
its public schools, after which he learned 
the photograph business in that place and 



then Went tn Chicago, where he engaged in 
the business for .two years. h'rom Chicago 
he went to Paw Paw, Illinois, where he 
carried on the business for five yea^s, and 
then located at Sycamore, coming to this 
place in 1887, where he has since continued 
to remain. 

Mr. Clark w-js united in marriage at 
Paw Paw, January 27, 1882, with Miss Al- 
meda M. Hicks, a daughter of Henrv I\. 
and Adelaide M. (Matthews) Hicks, both of 
whom were natives of New London, Con- 
necticut. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are merubers 
of the Methodist Episcopal church and are 
active in church work. In politics he is a 
Republican, and fraternally he is a member 
of the Modern Woodmen of America. As 
a citizen he is progressive, and, socialh', he 
and his wife are held in the highest esteem. 
Since coming to Sycamore he has built up 
an e.xtensive and high-class patronage, and 
has a prosperous business. 



DAX'ID N. CORY, who resides on a farm 
of one hundred and thirty-five acres, 
in section 10, Paw Paw- township, is a nati\-e 
of De Kalb county, born on the farm where 
he now resides, July 29, 1854. His father, 
Jesse Cory, was a native of New jersey, 
born in 1818, and removed with his parents 
to Orange county. New York, when a child, 
and there grew to manhood He was a well 
educated man, and for a number of years en- 
engaged in teaching in the public schools. In 
Tompkins count}-. New York, he married 
Catherine Nicholson, a nati\e of that count)-, 
and shortly afterward came to Illinois and 
first located in Kendall county, where he 
remained a short time, and then moved to 
Winnebago county, but later returned to 
New York. Two years residence in his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



199 



native state decided liitn that the west was 
the place for one tc) succeed in life. He 
therefore came to Do Kalli count)-, Hhnuis, 
and entered the land where his son now 
resides. He was one of the first settlers on 
the prairie. 

After locating upon the place Jesse Corj- 
erected a small house, in which the family 
resided for a few years, when he built a 
more modern residence with f^ood barns and 
other outbuildinp;s, making; a valuable farm 
of one hundred and eighty acres. On that 
farm he spent the remainder of his life, d\'- 
ing in 1881, at the age of sixty-three years. 
His wife survived him and died on Februarv 
'3. '893, when about seventy-seven years 
old. He was a pioneer teacher of De Ivalb 
county, and taught many winter terms of 
school while engaged in improving his 
farm. He held many positions of honor 
and trust in his township, serving as town- 
ship treasurer for about twenty-live years. 
His e.xperience as a teacher made him de- 
sirous of obtaining good schools, and he 
therefore used his influence in that direction. 
Fraternally he was a member of Shabbona 
Lodge, A. 1-^. & A. M. Jesse and Catherine 
Cory were the parents of eight children, four 
of whom grew to mature years. Susan is 
the wife of H. 1^. Terpening, a farmer of 
\'ermillion county, Illinois. Elizabeth is 
the wife of William Campbell, of Janesville, 
Wisconsin. Andrew A. resides in Chicago, 
where he is employed as a conductor on the 
street railway. David N. is the subject of 
this sketch. 

David N. Cory grew to manhood on 
the home farm and received his educa- 
tion in the common school and East Paw 
Paw Seminary. He assisted his father on 
the farm until the latter's death, when he 
took charge of the place, and later pur- 



chased the interests of the other heirs. 
Since coming in possession of the estate he 
has added materially to the improvements, 
and has now one of the most valuable farms 
in the town. In liis chosen occupation he 
has been successful, and in addition to 
general farmmg has engaged in breeding to 
some extent high grade stock. He was 
married in De Ivalb county, January 28, 
1880, to Miss Susan James, a native of 
Kendall county, Illinois, but who spent the 
great part of her life in De Kalb conntw 
A well educated lady, she was for some 
years a teacher in the public schools prior 
to her marriage. She is a daughter of F. 
M. lames, of Squaw Grove township. By 
this union there are two children, Ralph 
and Jessie, students in the home school. 

A life long Republican, Mr. Cory cast 
his first presidential ballot for U. S. Grant 
in 1868. He has taken quite an active part 
in local politics, and in various campaigns 
has contributed of his time and means. 
For three terms he has served as township 
collector, and has also served as supervisor 
of his township, making an efficient mem- 
ber, and serving on the committees on edu- * 
cation, real estate and assessments, and 
some others. Mrs. Cory is a member of 
the Congregational church of Rollo, and 
fraternally he is a member of Shabbona 
lodge, A. F. & A. M. lloth are highly re- 
spected citizens of the township and have 
man}' friends with whom ihev are held in 
the highest esteem. 



LLICIAN DODtiE, a retired farmer resid- 
ing in De Kalb, has been a resident of 
the county since 1863, thirty- two years of 
which time he spent in arduous toil upon 
the farm, and by his industry and thrift he 



200 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



is now permitted to live in ease and retire- 
ment. He is a native of Vermont, born at 
Mt. Holly, June 19, 1843, and is the son of 
Thomas and Eliza (Connant) Dodge, the 
former born at Durham P'lats, Canada, Feb- 
ruary 2, 1809, and the latter in Townsend, 
Massachusetts, September 12, 1807. Thomas 
Dodge was a large landowner, having some 
fourteen hundred acres under his control. 
He removed from Canada to N'ermont, at 
the close of the war of 1812, in company 
with his father, Abram Dodge, locating near 
Mt. Holly, \ermont. In that state he at- 
tained some prominence, serving in the leg- 
islature of that state for one term. In 1863, 
he came to De Kalb county, Illinois, and 
purchased what was then known as the Van 
Wert property. Politically he was a Re- 
publican, and was always interested in po- 
litical affairs. He died December 29, 1893, 
and his wife March 23, 1875. Their family 
consisted of three sons: Thomas VV., born 
May 30, 1838; Rollin, October 13, 1841; 
and Lucian, as noted above. All were born 
at Mt. Holly, Vermont. 

Lucian Dodge was reared and received 
his primary education at Mt. Holly, Ver- 
mont, and afterward took a course at Black 
River Academy, Ludlow, N'ermont. He 
was twenty years of age when he accom- 
panied his parents to De Kalb county, Illi- 
nois. He at once engaged in farming, which 
he successfully carried on until 1895, when 
he removed to the city of De Kalb, where 
he now lives in retirement, enjoying the 
fruits of his former toil. 

On the 22nd of October, 1891, Mr. 
Dodge was united in marriage with Miss 
Cora A. Tiffany, a native of Darien, Wis- 
consin, born December 6, i860, and ths 
daughter of Vester and Louise I'Blodgettj 
Tiffany, both nati\'es of Hartford, Pennsvl- 



x'ania, from wbirh j^lan- in 1S57 thev re- 
moved to Wisconsin, where they renjained 
for several years. They ne.xt moved to 
Iowa, where Mr. Tiffany died in February, 
1892, in his sixty-fifth year. His widow 
then came to De Kalb county, Illinois, where 
she now resides. They reared a family of 
eight children. Jessie is the wife of Dr. A. 
T. Piercy, Placerville, California. Ida mar- 
ried Rev. C. W. Pruitt, and died October 
19, 1884, at Cheefoo, China, after ha\ing 
li\'ed in China se\'eral year.> as a missionarN'. 
Cora is the wife of our subject. William is 
a farmer at Independence, Iowa. Elmer is 
a practicing physician of Modera, Califor- 
nia. Edward is a physician of Plymouth, 
California. Belle resides in Placerville, Cal- 
ifornia. Herbert is a bookkeeper in Chi- 
cago, and served in the war with Spain. 
The Tiffan\'S are of English extraction, and 
some of that name emigrated to the New 
World in 1600, and located at Attleburj-, 
Massachusetts. Colonel Amos Tiffany, the 
grandfather of Mrs. Dodge, was an officer 
in the war of 18 12 and fought valiantly for 
his country. Her maternal great-grandfa- 
ther, Timothy Blodgett, was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war. The Blodgettsare also 
of English extraction, the first of the name 
locating in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as 
early as 1635, coming to the New World in 
the ship Increase. 

The Dodges are of Scotch descent, and 
wereearly settlers in this country. Abra- 
ham Dodge, the grandfather of our subject, 
took an active part in the war of the Revo- 
lution. Lucian Dodge, in addition to his 
fine farm of four hundred acres in DeKalb 
township, owns a beautiful residence in the 
city. For some years he engaged in general 
farming, but of late years confined himself 
principally to dair\ing. Success crowned 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



20 1 



his efforts, and ht; is now miiiibered among 
the well-to-do citizens of De Kalb county. 
Fraternal!}', he is a Mason and a firm be- 
liever in the principles of that order. Polit- 
ically, he is a Republican. 



DANIEL HOHM, who is now serving 
as marshal of the village of Hinckley, 
is a well known citizen of the county, of 
which he has been a resident since 1878. 
He was born in New \'ork city September 
15, i860, and is the son of Vincent Hohm, 
a native of Germany, who came to the 
New World after attaining his majority, 
locating in New 'S'ork city, where he mar- 
ried Charlotte Schneider, also a native of 
Germany. By trade he was a shoemaker, 
at which he worked in New York about 
four years. In 1S62 he removed to Piano, 
Illinois, where he engaged in business, and 
there resided until 1878, when he moved 
with his faniil}' to \'ictor township, De Kalb 
county. 

Daniel Hohm, uur subject, grew to man- 
hood in Piano, Illinois, where he obtained 
a limited education in the public schools. 
From the age of ten years he has made his 
own living in the world, at that time com- 
mencing work in a liver}' barn. In 1878 
he came with the family to De Kalb county, 
and for two years worked upon a farm, then 
engaged with George Watson, and after- 
terwards with Joseph Glidden and others 
in the care of their horses. In 18S5 he 
moved to Hinckley, where he engaged in 
the livery business. One year later he was 
burned out, suffering considerable loss, but 
later rebuilt the livery barn which he still 
owns, and for ten years was actively en- 
gaged in the livery business, m which he 
had a nice and satisfactory trade. During 



those ten years he was also engaged in buy- 
ing and shipping fine coach and driving 
horses, his market being principally Chicago, 
although he would occasionally make ship- 
ment to New York city. 

Mr. Hohm was married in Hinckley, 
March 31, 1885, to Miss Bertha Bastian, a 
native of De Kalb county, Illinois, and a 
daughter of August Bastian, one of the 
early settlers of De Kalb county, and a sub- 
stantial farmer of S(]uaw Grove township. 
By this union there are three children. May, 
Lola and Harley. 

In 1895 Mr. Hohm was appointed mar- 
shal by the town board of Hinckley, and 
accepting the office he rented his livery 
barn, sold his stock, and has since given his 
entire attention to the duties of the office. 
In the discharge of the duties of the office 
of marshal he has been brought incon- 
tact with leading citizens of the county, 
who recognizing his abiltity as an ofTicer 
lent their active support to his candidacy, 
and assisted him in securing him the nomi- 
nation for sheriff of De Kalb county in the 
Republican county convention of 1898. He 
has the confidence and esteem of those with 
whom he is acejuainted, and they are all 
confident of his election. He has been a 
life-long Republican, and an earnest sup- 
porter of the men and measures of that 
party. Fraternally he is a Mason, a mem- 
ber of Hinckley Blue Lodge, Sandwich Chap- 
ter and Sycamore Commandery. Asa busi- 
ness man, he has always been enterprising, 
endeavoring not only to advance his own 
good, but that of the community in which 
he resided. By his own industry, he has 
accumulated a fair property, and is recog- 
nized as one of the best men in the village 
of Hinckley, with friends scattered through- 
out the entire county. On the 9th of June, 



202 



THE BIOGRAPHICAT. KFXORD. 



1898, at Sugar drove, Illinois, he sustained 
some injuries and a general shake up in a 
railroad accident at that time and place. 
He feels fortunate that the injuries received 
were no worse, hut he was hadh" l)ruise<l 
and disabled fur duty for several weeks. 



WI1,LL\M LABKANT, a retired mer- 
chant residing in Malta, Illinois, is a 
native of Massilon, Stark county, Ohio, born 
September i, 1833, and is the son of |on- 
athan and Margaret (Isenbrigh) Labrant, 
both natives of Germany, who emigrated to 
this country about 1832, locating near Mas- 
silon, Ohici. While residing in Ins nati\e 
coimtr3% Jonathan Labrant ser\ed as a me- 
chanic, but after his emigration to this 
country he engaged in farming, which was 
his occupation during the remainder of his 
life. In 1843, he remo\ed to Crawford 
countw Ohio, where he leased a large tract 
of land, which he cleared, turning it into a 
valuable and producti\e farm. On that 
farm he remained until 1851, when, with 
his family, he came to Ue Kalb count}', 
Illinois, where he purchased eighty acres of 
land in Pierce township, which he at once 
began to improve, and on which he resided 
until 1868, when he sold the same at an 
advanced price. He then reino\ed ti) the 
\ ill;jge of Malta, where he lived until l.S;(i, 
when he exchanged his Malta property for 
Sandwich property, to which place he re- 
moved, having two daughters residing there. 
His death occurred at that place in June, 
1876, at the age of sixty-seven. His wife's 
death occurred July 9, 1879, also at the age 
of si.xty-seven years. They W'ere consistenf 
and upright people, members of the German 
Evangelical church. 

Of the famiKol Inehe childri'ii horn to 



Jonithan and Margaret Labrant, the sub- 
ject of this sketch was the eldest. In his 
native state he received his primary edu- 
cation, which was supplemented bv one or 
two terms of school, after his renxjval to 
Ue Kalb county, Illinois, when in his eight- 
eenth year. W'hile yet residing in Crawford 
county, Ohio, he assisted his father in clear- 
ing aii<l cultivating the home farm. He left 
his father's roof at the age of twenty, and 
for two }ears subsequent worked on a 
faim. In the following year he engaged 
with Frederick Streely to learn the carpen- 
ter's trade, and was with him one year. In 
1859, he removed to Missouri, where he 
worked at his trade until r86i, wlien he re- 
turned to Ue Kalb county, and in 1862 he 
was appointed postmaster of Pierceville, 
Illinois, an office which he honestly and 
honorably filled. In 1865, he removed to 
Malta, Illinois, where for the first two years 
he was engaged at working at his trade, 
after which he formed a partnership with 
P. C. Wagner, of Ue Kalb, and opened the 
first furniture and undertaking establish- 
ment in Malta. This business was carried 
on bv the firm for two years, when Mr. La- 
brant purchased Mr. Wagner's interest. A 
larger store room was built to accommodate 
his growing trade, and he continued in the 
business until iSSij, when he sold out In 
Mrs. Leatherby, and removed to .Xslitiin, 
Illinois, where, iiecause nothing better 
offered, he kept hotel. This proving dis- 
agreeable to himself and family, he aban- 
doned it, and removed to Aurora, Illinois, 
but seeing no opening there, he returned to 
Malta and bought back from Mrs. Leath- 
erbv his old business, which he followed 
until 1891, when he soki out to Ur. Badg- 
ley, anti has since lived a retired life. 

(Jn the 23d of November, 1862, Mr. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Labrant was joineci in wedlock with Miss 
Elizabeth Ann M^ers. born in 1845, ^"d a 
daughter of George W. and Naoma (Eberly) 
Myers. By this union were live children, of 
whom Edward E. is deceased. The living 
are Cora E.. Myrtie M., Maude O. and Roy 
W. Mrs. Labrant died December 6, 1890, 
and May 4, 1892, Mr. Labrant was joined 
in marriage with Mrs. Jane A. Harrington, 
widow of H. H. Harrington, of Malta. She 
was born March 11, 1843, and was eleven 
years of age when she came with her par- 
rents to De Kalb county. She is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. For 
a number of years Mr. I^abrant was a mem- 
ber and an officer in the same church, hold- 
ing the office of class leader and steward to 
the entire satisfaction of his brethren. 
Some years ago he did that which all men 
have a right to do. After due deliberation, 
he changed his religious belief, and is now a 
member and elder in the Advent church of 
De Kalb, Illinois. Politically he is a Re- 
publican. 



FRANK A. LA PORTE, an enterprising 
farmer residing in section 8, Paw Paw- 
township, owns and operates a farm of 
three hundred and sixty acres, three and 
three-fourths miles east of Paw Paw. He 
is a native of Paw Paw to\\'nship, born No- 
vember 6, 1 860, and is the son of Alonzo 
La Porte, a native of New York, born in 
1826 at Sackett's Harbor, near the Thou- 
sand Islands. The paternal grandfather, 
Narcis La Porte, was a native of France 
and a pioneer of Sackett's Harbor. He 
moved west with his family in 1837 and lo- 
lated at Sugar Grove, K.ane county, Illi- 
nois, where he engaged at his trade of 
fjlacksmithing, and there reared his family. 



He some years later, however, moved to 
De Kalb county and settled on a farm in 
Paw Paw township. 

Alonzo La Porte v\as eleven years of 
age when he accompanied his father to 
Sugar Grove, Kane county, Illinois, and on 
a farm in that township grew to manhood 
and whenever possible attended the com- 
mon schools where he received a fair edu- 
cation. F"rom Sugar Grove he came to 
De Kalb county in 1848 and here married 
Thirza A. Hyde, a daughter of James and 
Ruth Hyde, who were early settlers in De 
Kalb county. They became the parents of 
two sons and four daughters, all of whom 
grew to mature years and married and all 
are living save one daughter. The wife and 
mother died about 1882. 

Alonzo La Porte was a soldier in the 
Me.\ican war, and three times walked across 
the plains, first as a soldier to Santa Fe, 
next to California in 1850, and later to 
Pike's Peak. With a land warrant he en- 
tered one hundred and si.xty acres and later 
added to his possessions until he now owns 
over eight hundred acres in Paw Paw town- 
ship. For years he was actively engaged 
in farming, but in 1893 moved to the village 
of Paw Paw where he is now living a re- 
tired life. He was quite active in local 
affairs in his township and served as super- 
visor and in other positions of honor and 
trust. 

On the home farm in Paw Paw township 
our subject passed his boyhood and youth, 
and after attending the district schools, 
finished his course in the East Paw Paw 
Seminary, once a noted educational institu- 
tion. He remained under the parental 
roof until after attaining his majority, and 
assisted in carrying on the farm until 
twenty-tive years of age. He was married 



204 



THL: lUOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in ("lintoii township, De Kalb county, May 
12, 1.S87, to Miss Margaret Fraser, a 
dauf^hter of Edwin Eraser, an earlj' settler 
and a substantia! farmer of that township. 
Hy tiiis union there are t\\ o riiildren, Thirza 
.\I. and I'^rank A. 

.Aft(>r marriage Mr. Ea Porte settled on 
the farm where he now resides, which then 
consisted of two hundred and ejghty acres. 
Later he. purchased eighty acres additional, 
and has now a well improved and \aluable 
farni of three hundred ami si.\tv acres. 
With general farming he combines stock 
raising, feeding and preparing for market, 
about si.\ carloads of stock annually, which 
he ships to Chicago. He has been quite 
successful in his farming operations, and is 
regarded as one of the best farmers in the 
community. His first presidential vote was 
in 1 884, when he voted for James G. Blaine. 
He has since been an earnest advocate of the 
principles of the Republican party. He has 
ne\erdesireii nor has he e\er held jiublic of- 
his tastes and inclinations not running in that 
direction. fn 1884 he rented his farm and 
moved to l^aw Paw and there engaged m mer- 
chandising in partnership with his brother 
James H. La Porte. After three years suc- 
cessful e.xperience in that line, he sold his 
interest in the store, and for a time was not 
actively engaged in any business. While 
residing in the village he served two years 
as a member of the board of trustees, and 
also served on the school board. In the 
spring of 1898 he returned to his farm, 
where he is now actively employed, and 
with the same characteristic energy dis- 
played in past years, will no doubt meet 
with good success. His life has been an 
active one, and he is well known and has 
many friends in l)e Kalb and Eee coiin- 
ities, 



ASHER DOWNER, residing on .section 
32, Milan township, is one of the most 
progressive farmers in De Kalb county, and 
owns and operates a farm of four hundred 
and forty acres, which is under the highest 
state of cultivation. He is a native of On- 
tario, Canada, born near Montreal, August 
30. 1832, and is the son of Al)el Downer, a 
native of Winchester, Vermont, born in 
1/9 1. His paternal grandfather Downer 
was a pioneer of Vermont, and .\bel Downer 
there grew to manhood, and when a \oung 
man went to Canada, where he married 
Luciiida Loomer, a nati\e of Canada, born 
on an island in the St. Lawrence river. 
After his marriage he engaged in farming in 
Canada for a few years, but being dissatis- 
fied with the country, in 1837, he came to 
Illinois, looking for a location, but made no 
selection and came the second time for the 
same purpose,, removing to the state in 
1840, locating at Aurora, Kane county, 
which was then hut an insignificant \ illage. 
He made a claim some two miles from tlu' 
village, and commenced the erection of a 
dwelling house, which was burned lielore 
completion, taking fire from one of the 
numerous prairie fires. He then built in 
the village a small house and there resided 
four years while opening up the farm. 
Erecting a good house upon the place, he 
remo\ed to the farm and there spent the 
last years of his life, dying iu |mi<\ 1864. 
His wife survived him and passed away in 
June, 1885. Of their family of eight chil- 
dren, three sons and two daughters yet sur- 
\ive. 

Asher Downer was reared at Aurora and 
on the old homestead near that place, and 
had but common-school ad\antagcs. He 
remained with his lather until twents-five 
years of age and assisted him in carrying on 



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ASHER DOWNER, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



207 



the home farm. In 1858, at Batavia, Illi- 
nois, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Elizabeth Curtis, a native of New York and 
a daughter of Ephraim Curtis, an early set- 
tler of I\ane county. By this union were 
three children, Fred C, H. C. and Mary S. , 
all of whom yet remain at home, the sons 
assisting in the farm work and the daughter 
now acting as housekeeper for the famil}'. 

Immediately after his marriage, Mr. 
Downer came to De Kalb county and set- 
tled on a farm of one hundred and si.xty 
acres of raw prairie land, purchased by his 
father in Milan township, and at a time 
when there were but few settlers in the 
township. Erecting a small house, he 
commenced breaking the ground and placing 
the farm under cultivation. Success 
crowned his efforts, and he after added to 
his possessions until he now owns four hun- 
dred and forty acres all in one body. The 
small house originally erected has given 
place to a larger and more substantial one, 
and a large barn has been built together 
with various outbuildings and over three 
miles of hedge fence enclosed the place. 
The pumps which supply the stock with 
water are operated by a gasoline engine 
which also runs a feed mill that grinds feed 
for the stock. The farm is one of the best 
improved in De Kalb county. 

Mrs. Downer, who for thirty years was 
indeed a helpmeet to her husband, passed 
to her reward in December, 1888, leaving 
not only the family, but many friends to 
mourn her loss. Politically Mr. Downer 
has been a Republican since the organiza- 
tion of the party. He never desired nor 
would he ever hold office, preferring to give 
his time and attention to his business inter- 
ests. Both sons are also stanch Repub- 
licans, H. C. having been elected and serv- 



ing as justice of the peace for several years. 
For fifty-eight years Mr. Downer has been 
a resident of the state and for forty years a 
resident of De Kalb county. In its devel- 
opernnt it will certainly, be acknowledged 
that he has done his full share. 



HECTOR H. COLEMAN, fur many 
years was one of the leading agricult- 
uralists of Mayfield township, was born 
March 11, 1837, in Orange county, New 
York, and is the son of John and Ph(ebe 
(Ketcham) Coleman, both of whom were 
natives of the same count}', the former born 
November 8, 1791, and the latter August 
25, 1805. They were the parents of five 
children, of whom one besides our subject, 
Charles W., is yet surviving. By a former 
marriage there were ten children, of whom 
the following are living: John, residing in 
New York City; James H., at Sing Sing, 
New York; Hiram, in Johnston, Michigan. 
John Coleman, the father, was by occu- 
pation a farmer, and in early life was a 
Whig, and later a Republican. Religiously 
be was a member of the Presbyterian church. 
During the second war with Great Britain 
he served acceptably as one of the members 
of a New York regiment. His death oc- 
curred in Orange county. New York, No- 
vember 9, 1859. His wife survived him 
many years, dying December 1, 1890, in 
her eighty-sixth year, at the home of her son 
in Mayfield township. The Coleman fam- 
ily were established in the United States in 
a very early day, three brothers coming 
from England, locating on Long Island 
about 1760, and from there moving to 
Orange county. New York, settling near 
Goshen, where the grandfather of our sub- 



208 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ject, Nathan Coleman, and ijreat-grand- 
father lived and died. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the home farm in Orange county, and there 
received his education in the common 
schools. In October, 1875, he started for 
the west, coming direct to DeKalb county, 
locating on section i, Mayfield township, 
where he engaged in farming, and there re- 
mained until 1897, when he built a nice 
residence on Main street. Sycamore, to 
which he removed. He ac(]uired in May- 
tield township two hcmdred and twenty-five 
acres of land, which he still owns and w here 
he carried on general farming. He now 
leases his farm and is living a quiet, retired 
life. In addition to his family residence, 
he is also the owner of another dwelling in 
the city of Sycamore. 

Mr. Coleman was married November 30, 
1 861, in Mayfield township, to Mary R. 
Mackey. daughter of Harrison and Mar}' 
(Hall) Mackey. She is a native of Orange 
county, New York, and came west with her 
parents when ipiite young. Her father was 
born in Ulster county. New York, and set- 
tled in Mayfield township, in the spring 
of 1839. locating on government land, 
being farther back on the prairie than 
any other family. Her father died August 
22. 1S90. hut her mother died many years 
before, her death occurring January 22, 
1856, in Mayfield township. She was a 
native of Sullivan county, New York, and 
was the mother of three children — MaryR. , 
Eliza J. and Julia A. The latter, who was the 
wife of John Westlake, died April 8, 1869. 
Eliza J. is the wife of J. E. Parker, of 
Sycamore. 

Mr. and Mrs. Colcnian h;i\e one child, 
Harrison M., born February 19, 1S63. He 
grew to manhood in .Mayfield township, and 



there married Katherine Ells, August 28, 
1886 She is the daughter of George and 
Elizabeth Ells. They ha\e two children — 
Ruth and Clare. They reside on section i i , 
Mayfield township, where he is engaged in 
farming on the old farm of his grandfather, 
Harrison Mackej-. 

In politics Mr. Coleman is a Republican, 
in the principles of which party he has un- 
bounded faith. By his fellow-citizens he 
was elected school director, and has also 
held other local positions. He and his 
wife are devoted members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, in the work of which 
they take special interest. As a farmer, 
Mr. Coleman has aided largely in the devel- 
opment of the agricultural interests of De 
Kalb county. As a citizen he is held in 
the highest esteem, having many friends 
scattered throughout the county. 



JAMES LANE, who resides on section 13, 
Shabbona township, has a fine farm of 
one hundred and eighty-five acres, lying in 
sections 13 and 24. He is a native of Eng- 
land, born m Dartford, near London, No- 
\ember 23, 1836, and is the son of Henry 
and Mary (Lu.\ford) Lane, both "of whom 
were also natives (jf England, where their 
entire lives were passed. They were the 
parents of eleven children, all of whom grew 
to mature years. In his nati\e country 
James Lane grew to manhood, his educa- 
tional advantages being very limited. On 
the 23d of May, 1858, he was married in 
Kent, England, to Ann Maria Johnson, a 
native of England, who was reared and ed- 
ucated at Kent. One year later, with his 
young bride, he took ship at the London 
dock in a sailing vessel, the Uaniel Webster, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



209 



for the United States, and were seven weeks 
on the broad Atlantic, during which time 
they encountered several severe storms, in 
one of which the main mast of the vessel 
was carried away. They arrived in New 
York in May, 1S59, and immediately came 
west to Illinois, locating in Somonauk, De 
I-Calb county, where Mr. Lane had an aunt 
residing. 

On his arrival in Somonauk Mr. Lane 
went to work on a farm, working by the 
month for one year. He then rented a farm 
and continued to rent until 1874, when he 
purchased eighty acres on section 24, Shab- 
bona township, located therson, and engaged 
in fanning for himself. After residing there 
some four or five years he purchased one 
hundred and fifteen acres adjoining, which 
was fairly well improved, and on which was 
a dwelling house, which he remodeled, and 
into which he moved with his family, and 
has there since continued to reside. In the 
twenty-four years that he has resided upon 
that farm he has shown himself to be a 
model farmer and has been very successful 
in all his undertakings. In addition to gen- 
eral farming he has been somewhat e.\ten- 
sively .engaged in dairying and has some 
good graded stock. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lane are the parents of 
nine children, se\en of whom were born in 
La Salle county and two in De Kalh county, 
Illinois. Henry G. grew to manhood, mar- 
ried and is now engaged in farming in Shab- 
bona township. Edgar A. died in child- 
hood. Maude M. is the wife of Louis Olm- 
stead, a substantial farmer of Shabbona 
township. Ella M. is the wife of J. Clap- 
saddle, of Shabbona. Elmer E. is married 
and engaged in farming in Shabbona town- 
ship. .Arthur resides in Iowa. Charles f. 
assists in carrying on the home farm. Os- 



car E. now resides in Wisconsin. Freder- 
ick, a young man, resides at home. 

Mr. Lane is identified with the Repub- 
lican party, with which he has been con- 
nected since becoming a naturalized citizen. 
He has never sought office, but has served 
four j'ears as commissioner of highways, 
and is treasurer of the commission. With 
the exception of school director, that is the 
only office that he has held. He and his 
wife are active members of the Shabbona 
Congregational church, in which he has 
been a deacon for sixteen years. He is also 
a worker and speaker in the Sunday school, 
having a class of young ladies, which he 
has instructed for four years. The first 
years after the building of the railroad, he 
served as superintendent of the schools. 
Fraternally he is an Ancient Odd Fellow, 
having been a member of the order in Eng- 
land. For thirty-nine years he has been a 
resident of Illinois, and while he came to 
this country without means, by his industry 
and economy, assisted by his good wife, he 
has been fairly successful in life. 



JOSEPH O. WALRAD, manager of the 
EUwood farms in Afton township, is a 
native of Otsego county, New York, born 
January 2.S, 1834, and is the son of Liv- 
ingston and Nancy \. (Ellwood) Wairatl, 
who were also natives of Otsego county, 
New York, and the parents of two children, 
Joseph O., our subject, and James, who is 
now deceased. The paternal grandfather. 
Garret M. Walrad, was a soldier in the war 
of 1812. Livingston Walrad, the father, 
came to De Kalb county in 1846, and set- 
tled near the present site of the city of 
Sycamore, where he bought three hundred 
and twenty acres of go\ernment land, but 



210 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



after nine years sold out and returned to 
New York. 

When his parents came to De Kalb 
county, our subject was but twelve years of 
age. His education, bej,'aii in the public 
schools of New York, was completed in the 
common schools of De Kalb county. In 
1859 he made the overland journey to Cali- 
fornia, experiencing many hardships in 
going and losing nearly all that he had. 
Soon after his arrival he was taken sick and 
for six weeks was taken care of by a family 
by the name of Wilson, who did as well by 
him as could be done, making no charges 
whatever for their time and trouble, but 
doing all through kindness and with only 
the desire to aid one of their fellowmen. 
Regaining his health, he commenced work 
and prospered exceedingly, clearing in a 
comparativel\ short time some fifteen 
thousand dollars, but lost about seven 
thousand five hundred by loaning to friends. 
Returning to Sycamore in 1884, he engaged 
in farming and in 1887 took charge of the 
lillwood stock farm as manager and super- 
intendent. The farm comprises about seven 
hundred and forty-four acres, and is de- 
voted to stock and grain business, ten men 
being given employment during the entire 
year. 

On the 1st of b'ebruary, 1865, Mr. Wal- 
rad married Miss Libbie Helmer, a native 
of Herkimer county, New York. They 
have no children, but have an adopted 
daughter, May. Fraternally he is a Mason 
and religiously he is identified with the 
Methodist Episcopal church, with which he 
has been connected since he was sixteen 
years of age. l"or ten years he has served 
as class leader in the church, and has always 
taken an active interest in church affairs. 
In politics he is a Republican. In addition 



to his regular business he is interested in 
the building and loan association of De 
Kalb, and in Calhoun county, Iowa, he has 
one hundred and forty-five acres of well 
improved land. 



CHARLES W. GARNER, dealer in 
drugs and groceries, is recognized as 
one of the best business men of De Kalb. 
He is a native of the city, born October 16, 
1858, and is the son of John C. and Eliza 
(Rolfe) Garner, both of whom were natives 
of England, the former born in 1832 and 
the latter in 1830. They were married in 
the spring of 1855, and their voyage to this 
country the same year was their wedding 
trip. By trade he was a shoemaker, and 
after his location in De Kalb, in 1855, 
worked at it for twenty years in that city. 
He was a superior workman, and his manu- 
facture always gave excellent satisfaction. 
In 1875, he abandoned his trade in a meas- 
ure, and took charge of the shoe department 
in the store of A. Chandler, where he was 
an efficient employee for a number of years. 
Mr. Chandler was succeeded by Tyndall cS; 
Brown, and in the course of years Brown 
bought out Tyndall's interest, and finally 
C. A. Read bought out Brown. Still Mr. 
Garner continued to fill his wellearned po- 
sition in the store, enjoying the full confi- 
dence of each employer. On May 20, 1886, 
with his son, Charles W., he purchased 
the stock of drugs and groceries of John H. 
Lewis, and under the firm name of Garner & 
Son, continued the business until his death, 
which occurred January 10, 1898. He was 
much respected for his personal merits and 
social worth. For some time he served as 
one of the members of the city council, an 
office which he filled with honor and credit. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



211 



He \\'as a Mason of hi^h standing and 
reached the thirty-second degree. His wife 
survives him. They were the parents of 
four children, of whom Lizzie and Emily 
are deceased, while John P. and Charles W. 
are still living. 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
and educated in De Kalb, and when eight- 
een years of age he entered the store of 
[ohn H. Lewis, where he proved himself in- 
dispensible to his employer for many years. 
In 1886, as already stated, in partnership 
with his father, he purchased the store of 
Mr. Lewis, and on the death of the father 
succeeded alone to the business, which has 
grown to considerable magnitude. In July, 
1895, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Elva Beaupre, a nati\e of De Kalb, born 
January 23. 1871, and a daughter of Charles 
and Sarah Beaupre, of De Kalb. They 
have now one child, Charles Wicks. Mr. 
Garner has served his native city in the 
office of city treasurer for two years. Fra- 
ternally he is a Mason, and has reached 
the position of Knight Templar, having 
held every office in the \arious lodges, but 
that of tyler and junior warden. 



JAMES E. HARRINGTON, who is en- 
gaged in the life insurance business, at 
Sycamore, is a native of the city, born Au- 
gust 13, 1866, and is the son of I^elson R. 
and Sarah F. (Waterman) Harrington, the 
former born January 7, 1844, and who fol- 
lowed farming in Sycamore township for 
many years, and then retired to Sycamore. 
He was city marshal of Sycamore for vears, 
and served four years in the Civil war, as a 
member of Company F, Thirteenth Regi- 
ment, Illinois VolurTteer Infantry. He was 
a prominent member of the Independent 



Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army 
of the Republic. His wife, Sarah Water- 
man, was a daughter of Edward Waterman, 
a native of Kent county, England, who 
came to America in 1848, and lived in New 
York for several years and then went to 
Petersburg, \"irginia; here his death oc- 
curred when about fifty years old. He 
worked for a large contractor, building 
plank roads in New York and \'irginia. 
He was the son of Edward \\'aterman, Sr. , 
also a native of Kent county, England, who 
came to the United States in 1848, and died 
in Buffalo, New York, when about eighty 
years old. The paternal grandfather. Dr. 
fames Harrington, who married a Miss 
Walrod, was born in New York in 1806, 
and died in i 892. 

The subject of this sketch, when but a 
\ear old, was taken by his parents to Sauk 
Center, Minnesota, where he later attended 
school until the age of thirteen years. He 
then spent two \ears in .Ann .\rbor, Mich- 
igan, where an uncle, Mark \\'. Harrington, 
was professor of astronomy in the University 
of Michigan. One year in the Sycamore 
high school completed his school life. 
From the age of fifteen he has made his 
own way in the world. He clerked first in 
a drug store in Sycamore for twelve years, 
in the meantime taking a course in the Chi- 
cago College of Pharmacy, from which he 
was graduated in 1886. For three years 
he was in the emplo\' of Sivwright, Irish 
& Johnson. Since January i, 1898, he has 
been the general agent for the New York 
Life Insurance Company. 

Mr. Harrington was married in Syca- 
more, November 30, 1886, to Miss Nellie 
Walker, born in Virgil township, Kane coun- 
ty, Illinois, and daughter of John N. and 
Hannah (Wilsonj Walker, the former ana- 



iti 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



live of Hamilton, Canada, born August 13, 
1820, and who came to Illinois, locating in 
Virgil township, Kane county, in 1841. 
He was the son of John and Mary (Staun- 
ton I Walker, and was married in Campton 
township, Kane county. July 11, 1847, to 
Hannah Wilson, born in Dunham, Darling- 
ton county, Canada, and who came with 
her parents to Illinois, in 1843, locating in 
Campton township, Kane county. Her 
father. John Wilson, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania and went to Canada, where he mar- 
ried Mary Pickel, a daughter of John and 
Hannah (Smith) Pickel. John Wilson was 
the son of James and Deborah (Bennett) 
Wilson, the former a son of James Wilson, 
Sr. , a native of Scotland, who ran away to 
sea, Ijecaine captain of a vessel, and fol- 
lowed the sea for many years. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Harrington three children have been 
born: Joyce M., Grace O. and Frank. 

Fraternally Mr. Harrington is a Mason, 
holding membership with the subordinate 
lodge and chapter at Sycamore. He is also 
a member of the Knights of Pythias, Im- 
proved Order of Red Men, Knights of the 
Globe and Sons of Veterans. In politics 
he is a Republican, and is now serving as 
alderman from the third ward. He is a 
thoroughly progressive man, and has many 
friends not only in Sycamore, but through- 
out De Kalb county. • 



FRANK E. GAMMON resides on section 
8, Malta township, where he is engaged 
in general farming. He was born on sec- 
tion 7, of the same township, July 13, 1867, 
and is the son of John G. and Jane A. (Ben- 
nett) Gammon, both natives of England. 
The former emigrated to this country about 
1848, locating in I>uffalo, New ^'ork, where 



an uncle and ;innt, Henry and Mary Gam- 
mon, then resided. .About 1850, his uncle, 
with his family, removed to De Kalb county, 
Illinois, at which time he accompanied them, 
and with whom he lived as a farmer boy, 
until the breaking out of the Civil war, when 
he showed his patriotism towards his adopted 
country by being enrolled as one of her 
defenders in Company K, Fifteenth Illinois 
Cavalry, under Captain Ford. He served 
his full term of service, participating in all 
the battles in which his regiment was en- 
gaged during the three 3ears. After being 
honorably discharged, he re-enlisted in Han- 
cock's Veteran Corps, with which he served 
until the close of the war, when he was 
again honorably discharged as corporal. 
On receiving his discharge, James G. Gam- 
mon returned to his native land, where he 
secured his life companion in the person of 
Miss Jane A. Bennett, whom he married 
May 31, 1 866. They became the parents 
of three children, all of whom are yet liv- 
ing — Frank E., Henry B. and Jessie A. 
The latter married Burton L. Kittle, a grain 
broker in Chicago. Henry B. is a physician 
and surgeon, who after having mastered the 
common and advanced branches in the Cres- 
ton schools, entered Michigan University at 
Ann Arbor, from which institution he was 
graduated. At the present writing (June, 
1898) he is at the front in the Spanish- 
American, war and has charge of a hospital 
near Santiago. 

Frank E. Gammon is the eldest of the 
family. He grew to manhood in his native 
township, and was educated in the schools 
of Creston. With the exception of a short 
time spent in a machine shop, he has always 
confined himself to agricultural pursuits, 
and has lived on his present farm for twelve 
years. On May 18, 1 S90, he married Miss 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2l' 



Clara A. Foster, a native of Waverly, Iowa, 
born December lo, i86g, and r danj:^hter of 
John and Carrie Foster. Hy this union 
three children have been born: Neil J., Alta 
M. and Clifford. Mr. Gammon is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, holding mem- 
bership with Creston Lodge, No. 320, of 
which he is worshipful master. He is also 
a member of the Modern \\'oodmen of Amer- 
ica, No. 474, and of the Knights of Pythias. 
Politically he is an out and out Republican. 



THOMAS S. DALE is an enterprising 
fanner residing on section 9, Squaw 
Grove township, where he owns a valuable 
and well impro\ed farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres. He is a native of England, 
born in Durham county July 2, 1819, and 
is the son of Thomas and Ann (Stoddard") 
Dale, both of whom are natives of the same 
county. In his native land the father grew 
to manhood and was engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. He emigrated to the United States 
in 1852 and settled in Big Rock township; 
Kane county, Illinois, where he purchased 
a farm and spent the remainder of his life. 
In his family were nine sons and six daugh- 
ters, all of whom grew to mature years, 
five now surviving. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in Durham county, and there received 
a fair education. He was reared on a farm 
but spent some of the early years of his life 
in a grocery store, where he received a thor- 
ough business training. He was married in 
Jarrow, England, February 10, 1845, to 
Ann McArdle, a native of South Shield, 
Durham county, and a daughter of Thomas 
and Rachell (Dixon) McArdle. In 1852, 
with his wife and two children, he emigrated 
to the United States, taking ship at Liver- 



pool, and being five weeks on the Atlantic. 
They arrived in safety in New York, took a 
steamer at Dunkirk, New York, and came 
by Detroit and Lakes to Chicago, Illinois, 
where he secured employment in Cleaver's 
Soap and Candle Factory, and made his 
home for three years in that city. In 1855 
he moved to Kane county, Illinois, and 
purchased eighty acres of land in Big Rock 
township on which he resided some five or 
six years, then sold and in 1862 came to 
De Kalb county, where he purchased one 
hundred and sixty acres of improved land, 
the farm on which he yet continues to re- 
side. Many of the improvements now upon 
the place are the work of his hands. He 
has tiled the land well and cultivated it 
closely, being very successful in his farming- 
operations. He came to the county with 
some means and by his own labor, enter- 
prise and industry, has accumulated a com- 
petency. His farm is located about two 
and a half miles from Hinckley. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dale are the parents of 
nine children, six of whom are living, as fol- 
lows: James, married and now residing in 
Calhoun county, Iowa, where he is engaged 
in farming; Mary, wife of W. R. Owens, of 
Calhoun county, Iowa; William, residing at 
home, assisting in carrying on the home 
farm; Ada, also residing at home; Jennie, 
wife of C. W. Owens, residing in Calhoun 
county, Iowa; and Stoddard, who remains at 
home and assists in cultivating the farm. 
The deceased are John, who died when 
about one year old; Thomas, who grew to 
mature years and died a single man; and 
Anna, who died a young lady. 

Politically Mr. Dale is independent, 
casting his ballot as his conscience dictates 
without regard to party ties. For some 
years he served as school director, hut 



214 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RfiCORD. 



would never accept other office. Both he 
and his wife were reared in the P2piscopalian 
faith. A re.sident of Illinois for forty-six 
years and of l)e Kalb county for thirty-six 
years, he is well known throughout its 
length and breadth. In the many changes 
that ha\e been made, he has given material 
assistance, and has lived to see the day 
when De Kalb county is ranked among the 
best in the state. He is respected by all 
who know him and is one of the best citi- 
zens of his township and county. 



HON. FKI^DERICK B. TOWNSEND, 
mayor of the city of Sycamore, is a 
well-known representative of the lousiness 
and financial interests of De Kalb county. 
He is a native of the county, born in the 
township of Malta, July 30, 1858, and is 
the son of Amos W. and Eleanor (Pierce) 
Townsenci^ His father, who was the son 
of Stephen and Ann (Denman) Townsend, 
was a native of Sullivan county. New York, 
and when nine years of age came to Illinois 
with his parents, who located in the town- 
ship of Mayficld, De Kalb county. Stephen 
Townsend, the grandfather, was a native of 
Sullivan county, New York, born June 30, 
1807. His wife was also a native of that 
county, born August 15, 1809. Stephen 
Townsend was the son of Joshua and Phoebe 
Townsend, who were likewise natives of 
Sullivan county, New York, and who came 
west in 1839 with their son. Both are 
buried in the old cemetery at Maytield. 
Stephen Townsend, who died some years 
ago, is also buried in that cemeterj'. His 
wife, Ann Townsend, is still living at Syca- 
more at the age of eighty-nine years. They 
had ten children, six of whom grew to ma- 
turit\'. Eleanor, the wife of Luther lack- 



man, resides in Oregon. Nancy, the wife 
of Orrin West, living at Plainfield, Iowa. 
Katy H., wifr of F. H. Brundage. died at 
Malta, Illinois, in 1896. William H. is liv- 
ing in Sycamore. Hattie E., also living in 
Sycamore. Amos W., who was third in 
order of birth, is the father of our subject. 
Amos W. Townsend grew to manhood 
in Mayfield township and was educated in 
the common schools. He was reared to 
farm life and engaged in stock farming in 
Malta township after his marriage, and there 
continued until 1876, when he engaged in 
the banking business at Sycamore as a 
member of the firm of Daniel Pierce & Co., 
in which he continued until his death, Au- 
gust 25, 1887. His wife, Eleanor Town- 
send, is a daughter of Daniel and Jane 
(Brundage) Pierce. She is a native of Sul- 
livan county. New York, and came west 
with her parents, who located at S}'camore 
in 1855. For a number of years her father 
was engaged in the real estate business, but 
upon the failure of D. Hunt & Co. he com- 
menced the banking business in 1866. under 
the firm name of Pierce, Dean & Co. This 
was afterward changed to Pierce & Dean 
and later to Daniel Pierce & Co., the 
present title of the firm. Daniel Pierce is 
still living, but his wife died in 1876. He 
is now eighty-four years of age and spends 
his summers on a farm of three thousand 
acres in Dickinson county, Iowa, and his 
winters in Sycamore. To Daniel Pierce 
and wife three children were born, one of 
whom died in infancy. They are Eleanor, 
mother of our subject, and Sarah, who was 
the wtie of George P. Wild, died in 1S96. 
The children of .Amos and Eleanor Town- 
send were five in number, as follows: Fred- 
erick B., our subject; Jennie, now the wife 
of Charles A. Webster, lA Galesburg, Illi- 




HON. F. B. TOWNSEND. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



217 



nois; Anna, who married F. E. Claycomb, 
of Sycamore, died in 1S92; Georgia, wife of 
John E. Yates, of Round Pond, Maine; and 
Mary, at home. 

The early life of our subject was spent 
in Malta township on the stock farm of his 
father, where he remained until seventeen 
years of age. His primary education was 
obtained in the district schools of Malta 
township, after which he attended the high 
school at Sycamore, and later entered Lom- 
bard University, at Galesburg, which he at- 
tended four years, pursuing the scientific 
course. He then went to Eastman's Busi- 
ness College, at Poughkeepsie, New York, 
and took a full business course. Return- 
ing home he entered the banking house of 
Daniel Pierce & Company, with which he 
has now been connected for seventeen years 
and where he is now the managing partner. 

Mr. Townsend was married February 
18, 1890, at Sycamore, to Mary Boynton, 
a native of Sycamore, and a daughter of 
Charles O. and Lucetta P. (Stark) Boyn- 
ton. She was educated at St. Mary's Sem- 
inary, Knoxville, Illinois. By this union 
two children have been born: Charles B. , 
born January i, 1892, and Eleanor, born 
Decembers, 1895. Religiously Mrs. Town- 
send is a member of St. Peter's Episcopal 
church. Sycamore, in which she takes an 
active interest. 

In politics Mr. Townsend is a Democrat, 
the principles of which party were instilled 
into him from his youth. By his fellow 
citizens he has been honored with various 
offices. He was first elected alderman of 
the second ward in 1889, and was annually 
re-elected until 1893. In the spring of 
1894 he was elected mayor to fill the unex- 
pired term of the late Dr. George W. Nes- 

bitt. He was re-elected in 1895, and again 
11 



in 1897, and is now serving his third term. 
In 1893 he became a member of the board of 
education, in which position he is still serv- 
ing. In 1892 he was presidential elector for 
Grover Cleveland. Fraternally he is a 
Mason, a member of the blue lodge, chap- 
ter, and Sycamore Commandery, No. 15, 
K. T., at Sycamore, and of Medinah Tem- 
ple, A. A. O. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, 
Chicago. 

That Mr. Townsend is a very busy man 
is shown by the fact that he has charge of 
some twenty-hve farms in De Kalb county, 
which belong to the Daniel Pierce and 
Townsend estates, also some five thousand 
acres in Iowa belonging to the Daniel Pierce 
estate, together with large tracts of land on 
the Red River of the North. The private 
banking house of Daniel Pierce & Co., of 
which Mr. Townsend is now the manager, 
has been doing business for over thirty-one 
years, and has the confidence of the public 
to a high degree. The average deposits are 
about three hundred thousand dollars. 

For his years Mr. Townsend has shown 
remarkable financial and executive ability, 
and the large moneyed and landed interests 
placed in his hands are managed with rare 
skill. His popularity among the people is 
evidenced by his being elected for the third 
time as mayor in a Republican city, be be- 
ing a Democrat in politics. He is a man of 
social characteristics, winning in manner, 
and one of the rising young men of De Kalb 
county. 



JOHN H. UPLINGER, dealer in hard- 
ware, general merchandise, and farm- 
ing implements, is one of Kingston's best 
known and most highly respected citizens. 
He has the largest hardware store in the vil- 



2l8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lage, and has a large and extensive trade. He 
was born in Butler township, Luzerne 
county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1852, and is 
the son of John and Elizabeth (Wood) 
Uplinger, both of whom were natives of the 
same state. The father for some years en- 
gaged in butchering, but finally gave it up 
for the more quiet but less lucrative busi- 
ness of farming. He came west with his 
family in 1866, locating in Kingston town- 
ship, where* he purchased three hundred 
and .twenty acres of good improved land, 
besides several other parcels of land, which 
he disposed of from time to time. At the 
time of his death, October 6, 1893, he was 
the owner of two hundred acres of valuable^ 
land. His wife's death occurred in July, 

1897. 

Of the family of thirteen children born 
to John and Elizabeth Uplinger, our sub- 
ject was si.xth in order of birth. He was 
fourteen years of age when he came with 
his parents to Kingston, Illinois. His edu- 
cation, begun in the public schools of Penn- 
sylvania, was completed in the schools of 
Kingston. He lived at home with his par- 
ents, assisting in the farm work, until he 
reached his twenty-fourth year, at which 
time he engaged in the hardware business in 
Kingston, opening his place of business in 
December, 1875. For twenty-three years 
he has continued in that line, and while he 
has been uniformly successful in his busi- 
ness he has yet met with some losses. On 
the 29th of January, 1886, he experienced a 
serious loss by fire, losing nearly all his 
stock, amounting to four thousand dollars. 
In August of the same year he was re-estab- 
lished again, and is now, as formerly, doing 
an extensive business, and having the full 
confidence of the community at large. 

On the 28th of April, 1880, he was 



joined in marriage with Miss M?ry McDole, 
a native of Chemung county, New York, 
born in 1855, and a daughter of John and 
Catherine McDole, who were early settlers 
of De Kalb count}'. Like his father before 
him, Mr. U))linger is a stanch Democrat, 
and served two terms as postmaster of 
Kingston under President Cleveland. He 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and 
was raised to the sublime degree of Mas'.er 
Mason, September 20, 1877. He is also a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. 



JAMES LEISHMAN. dentist, No. 235 
Main street, De Kalb, Illinois. — There 
was a time when the ingenious mechanic 
with steady nerve, forceps and turnscrew 
could hang out his sign and go to work un- 
challenged. Now things have changed and 
not only must the dentist have nerve and 
muscle, but he must be a man of refinement 
and culture, who by a course of study and 
training has acquired a thorough knowledge 
of dental surgery. No other profession has 
made greater strides to the front than has 
dentistry. Closely connected with the med- 
ical profession, it is not a science to be ac- 
quired simply by study, but its conditions 
are ever changing, and the practice which 
was in vogue in one age is obsolete in the 
next; therefore, experience is a sure and true^ 
road to higher attainments. We revere the 
learned and experienced physician, but no 
less the cultured and practical dentist. It 
is, therefore, with pleasure that we record 
the biography of James Leishman, one of 
De Kalb's foremost dentists. 

James Leishman was born in South 
Grove township, De Kalb county, Illinois, 
December 22, 1854, and is the son of James 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



219 



and Margaret (Brown) Leishnian, both of 
whom were natives of Scotland. The father 
was a skilled mechanic, who, while j'et a 
yoLuij; man, came to the United States, and 
shortly after his arrival married Mrs. Mar- 
garet Morton, lu'c Brown, and by this union 
were born two children, James and David. 
The mother died at the age of seventy-seven 
years, Mr. Leishnian surviving her and dy- 
ing at the age of eighty years. They were 
both noble people, honest to a fault, and of 
good repute in the neighborhood where they 
resided. Members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, they took an active interest 
in all church and benevolent work. 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
and educated at Sycamore, where he at- 
tended the high school, and after completing 
his course of stud}' he turned his attention 
to dentistry, at which time he became a stu- 
dent at Philadelphia, taking a course in den- 
tal surgery. In 1S81 he returned to De Kalb 
county and opened an office in the city of 
De Kalb for the practice of his profession, 
and where he has remained to the present 
time. His ofBce is commodious and com- 
fortable and supplied with all the modern 
appliances known to the profession. 

On December 2, 1S85, Dr. Leishnian 
was joined by marriage with Miss Jessie M 
Carter, a native of De Kalb, Illinois, and a 
daughter of Orlando and Huldah (White) 
Carter, the former a native of Chenango 
county, New York, and the latter also of 
New York. By this union one child has 
been born, Walter Bruce, now attending 
the public .schools of De Kalb. 

Dr. Leishman is the carver of his own 
fortune. He is one of that number who 
have risen to a position of eminence in his 
profession by virtue of intrinsic qualities 
that are inherent in his nature and that are 



wholly incompatible with failure. Early 
disciplined in the rigid school of self-depend- 
ence, unaided b}' those extraneous influ- 
ences, which, while they smooth the path- 
way and lighten the responsibilities of youth, 
tend only to weaken the physical and moral 
nature of man, he has pressed on to success 
in his profession. He possesses social qual- 
ities in an eminent degree, with good con- 
versational powers, with a mixture of humor, 
which makes him a genial companion, as 
well as a warm-hearted and true friend, ever 
ready to greet an acquaintance or entertain 
a visitor. Fraternally he is a Mason and 
also a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America. In educational matters he has 
always been interested and is now serving 
as a member of the school board 



ORl'JIN M. NORTON, who resides on 
section 2, Squaw Grove township, 
where he owns and operates a farm of five 
hundred and forty-five acres, came to Illi- 
nois in 1836 and is therefore justly entitled 
to the name of pioneer. He is a native of 
Ohio, born in Geauga county, November . 
27, 1825. His grandfather, Phineas Nor- 
ton, was a native of Scotland, a pioneer of 
Vermont and a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war. His father, Robert Norton, was a 
native of Vermont, born in 1785, and who, 
as a young man, moved to Geauga county, 
Ohio, where he cleared a tract of land and 
engaged in active farm life. He there mar- 
ried Louisa Monroe, a native of Connecti- 
cut, her father, Joseph Monroe, being a 
pioneer of Ohio. The Monroes are of 
Scotch and English descent. 

In 1836 Robert Norton removed with 
his family to Kane county, Illinois, located 
near the village of Big Rock, where he re- 



220 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sided for some j-ears, then came to De 
Kalb county and purchased the farm where 
our subject now resides, where his death 
occurred in 1845, at the age of sixty-two 
years. His wife survived him many 3'ears, 
dying in 1878. They were the parents of 
three children, our subject being the eldest. 
Ora T. married I^obert Waudby and re- 
sides in Sioux City, Iowa. Mary Jane mar- 
ried David Harmon, of De Kalb county. 

The subject of this sketch came to Illi- 
nois when eleven years of age, his boyhood 
and youth being spent in Kane and De Kalb 
counties. The education he received in the 
pioneer schools was very meager, but he 
has since become a well informed man by 
reading and observation. He remained 
with his father till the latter's death and 
then took charge of the farm and business. 
He was married in Kane county, Illinois, 
December 25, 1853, to Miss Jemima Drake, 
a native of Allegany county. New York, 
and a daughter of Eda and Hannah Drake, 
who were among the pioneers of Kane 
county. After his marriage Mr. Norton 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres 
which he located with a land warrant. He 
at once commenced the improvement of the 
place, and as his means increased bought 
more land until his farm comprised five 
hundred and forty-five acres. His farm is 
well equipped with all necessary outbuild- 
ings and modern utensils, and on the place 
is a neat and commodious residence. Al- 
though he commenced life with very limited 
means, he has been very successful and 
ranks with the best farmers of his town- 
ship. 

Of the two children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Norton, Alice died at the age of two 
and a half years. Charles grew to man- 
hood, married Jennie Crosby and has three 



living children, Elmer, Carrie and Edna 
Blanche. He is now engaged in farming 
the old homestead. 

From the organization of the party to 
the present time, Mr. Norton has been an 
ardent Republican, and has given earnest 
support to every presidential nominee of the 
party. Both he and his wife are members 
of the Batavia Christian church, Mrs. Nor- 
ton having been a member for about thirty- 
five years. 

When Mr. Norton came to Illinois, Chi- 
cago was but an insignificant village, and 
he has lived to see it take rank as the sec- 
ond city in the union. The changes that 
have been made in the sixty-two years of 
his residence in Illinois can scarcely be con- 
ceived. An almost unbroken wilderness at 
the time of his arrival, the country is now 
dotted with flourishing villages, and the 
magnificent farms with their large dwelling 
houses and barns indicate that the people 
are indeed prosperous. The prosperity at- 
tending others has in a measure been meted 
out to him, and he is numbered to-day 
among the leading citizens of Squaw Grove 
township, with many friends throughout 
I\ane and De Kalb counties. 



RF. HAMPTON is a native of De Kalb 
county, born in Paw Paw township, 
February 3, 1852, and is the son of Hon. 
Robert Hampton, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this work. He now resides 
upon a fine farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 7, Paw Paw township, 
which he owns and operates, in connection 
with another farm of three hundred and 
fifty acres. His boyhood and youth were 
spent upon the old homestead in Paw Paw 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



221 



township, and his primary education was 
obtained in the district schools. From the 
district school he entered the classical semi- 
nary at East Paw Paw, in which he took a 
thorough course, and later engaged in teach- 
ing during the winter months, in which oc- 
cupation he continued for some twelve 
terms, while in the summer he assisted in 
the farm work; 

On the 9th of March, 1879, in Chicago, 
Illinois, Mr. Hampton was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lizzie Dienst, a nati\e of 
Illinois, born in La Salle county, but reared 
and educated in De Kalb county. Her fa- 
ther, Casper Dienst, died when she was a 
small child, and her mother a few months 
later. She was then taken and reared to 
womanhood by Wells W. Fay, of whom 
mention is made elsewhere in this volume. 
By this union there is one son, Robert 
Wells, a bright child of two years. They 
have also taken a child to rear. Golden 
Hampton, who entered their household 
when but four years of age, and is now a 
student in the home school. 

Soon after his marriage Mr. Hampton 
removed to the farm where he now resides, 
which he had purchased a few years before. 
He has here almost continuously since been 
engaged in general farming. In Septem- 
ber, 1894, he purchased a mercantile busi- 
ness at Rollo, in which he was actively en- 
gaged for about three years, closing out in 
August, 1897. In the spring of 1898, in 
connection with his own place, he took 
charge of the greater portion of his father's 
farm, and in connection with general farm- 
ing he is quite extensively engaged in stock 
raising. For seven years he has been en- 
gaged in breeeding and raising Polled Dur- 
ham cattle. In his farming operations, Mr. 
Hampton has been uniformly successful, and 



has the reputation of being one of the best 
farmers in the township. 

Politically Mr. Hampton is a Repub- 
lican, with which party he has been inden- 
tified since attaining his majority. He was 
elected and served as commissioner of 
highwaj'S one term, and for ten years has 
been township clerk and school treasurer. 
His interest in the public schools has been 
intensified by his experience as a teacher. 
He and his wife are members of the Rollo 
Congregational church, and in its work they 
take special delight. Previous to the or- 
ganization of the church at Rollo, he was 
superintendent of the Sunday school at 
East Paw Paw, and is now serving in the 
same position in the church at Rollo, a po- 
sition which he has satisfactorily filled for 
several years. Fraternally he is a Master 
Mason, holding membership with the lodge 
at Paw Paw. Thoroughly progressive, he 
is at all times willing to do all that he can 
to advance the interests of his native county 
and state. Few men are better known in 
the southern portion of De Kalb county, 
and none are more highly respected. 



AR U D O L P H Y O U N G G R E N, of 
Younggren Brothers, resides on section 
8, Shabbona township, where they are en- 
gaged in general farming and stock raising, 
having a farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres in the home place, and another of 
eighty acres in Milan township, both valua- 
ble and well improved farms. They date 
their residence in De Kalb county since 
1854, and on the farm where they now re- 
side since 1861. 

A. Rudolph Younggren is a native of 
Sweden, born in Jonkoping, January 20, 
1852, while his brother, Gustavus M., first 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



saw the light of day on the Atlantic ocean, 
September 5, 1854. Their father, Eman- 
uel Yonnggren, was also a native of Sweden, 
as was also their mother, Margaretha 
(Sandman) Younggren. The family emi- 
grated to the New World in 1S54, taking 
ship at Christina for Ouebec, Canada, and 
on arriving at that city they came direct to 
De Kalb county, Illinois, and located first 
in Shabbona Center. Emanuel Younggren 
was a carpenter and joiner by trade, at 
which he worked in his native country for a 
time. For seven years previous to his 
coming to America he worked in a match 
factory at Jonkoping. On coming to De 
Kalb county,' he worked at his trade of car- 
penter and. joiner, in addition to looking 
after the home farm. In 1S68 he purchased 
one hundred and si.xty acres on section 8, 
Shabbona township, on which he built a 
neat residence and various outbuildings. 
After his naturalization he was elected and 
served in a number of offices of honor and 
trust. By accident he lost his right hand, 
and was thus compelled to give up carpen- 
tering and much other work. He spent the 
last years of his life on the farm, and there 
died October 6, iSgi. His wife survived 
him two years and passed away August 16, 
1893. Their family comprised three sons 
and one daughter. Charles W., the eldest 
born, is engaged in fruit growing in Oregon. 
A. Rudolph is the subject of this sketch. 
G. M. is the partner of his brother in con- 
ducting the farm and in stock raising. Jen- 
nie and Melvina C. are deceased. 

Tiie Younggren brothers were reared on 
their present farm, which they helped to 
develop, and were educated in the common 
schools. After their father's death they 
succeeded to the homestead, together with 
the eighty-acre farm in Milan township, and 



they are now considered as being among 
the most enterprising and substantial farm- 
ers of Shabbona township. In addition to 
the above described farms, the\' !:ave re- 
cently purchased one hundred and si.xty 
acres of land in Coffej' county, Kansas. 
They are also breeders of high-grade Dur- 
ham cattle and Poland China hogs, and 
own and keep for breeding purposes a pure- 
bred French Canadian draft horse. Politic- 
ally the brothers are stanch Republicans, 
and A. Rudolph served two terms as com- 
missioner of highways, and in 1897 was 
elected a member of the county board of 
supervisors, being chairman of the commit- 
tee on printing, and a member of the com- 
mittee of highways, and also of persona! 
property. He joined the Odd Fellows lodge 
at Lee, and was a member while that lodge 
was in existence. He passed through all 
the chairs and represented his lodge two 
sessions in the grand lodge of the state. He 
is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, 
Knights of the Globe and Modern Wood- 
men of America, and is now serving as ven- 
erable consul of the Woodmen camp. He 
is well known throughout the county, in 
which he has resided for forty-four years, 
and wherever known he is respected for his 
integrity of character and personal worth. 



GEORGE WILLIAM DUXTON, of the 
firm of Carnes & Dunton, Sycamore, 
Illinois, has won high rank in the legal pro- 
fession and is regarded as one of the best 
attorneys in De Kalb county. He is a na- 
tive of Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, 
born August 6, 1854, and is the son of Will- 
iam S. and Alvira (Baldwin) Dunton. His 
father is a native of Dorset, Bennington 
count)-, V^ermont, born August 31, 1813, 




GEORGE W. DUNTON. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



223 



and is the son of William B. and Huldah 
(Sykes) Dunton. William B. Dunton was 
also a native of the same state. His father 
was a surveyor and came from Connecticut 
to Vermont, locating in Bennington county. 
The Duntons were of English ancestry and 
the head of this family came over from 
England during Cromwell's time and settled 
in Boston. 

William S. Dunton, the father of our 

■subject, grew to manhood in his native 
state and received a common school educa- 
tion. He came to Illinois in 1846 and lo- 
cated at Belvidere, Boone county, where he 
has since continued to reside. He there 
first engaged in the mercantile business and 
at one time was engaged in the manu- 
facture of plows, and also carried on farm- 
ing. At the time of the organization of the 
national banking system he became a di- 
rector of the First National Bank of Belvi- 
dere, and in 1866 was elected president of 
the same and held that responsible position 
for about twenty years, resigning on account 
of failing eyesight, but accepting the posi- 
tion of vice-president, which place he now 
holds. He has also been a director of the 
Second National Bank of Belvidere since 
its organization about 1SS4. In politics he 
IS a Republican. Physically he is heavily 
built and of a naturally strong constitution. 
He is a man of even temperament, upright 
disposition and character. His wife was 
the daughter of David Baldwin and was a 
native of Dorset, Vermont. In religious 

, belief she was a Universalist. They were 
the parents of four children, as follows: 
Wilbur, who died in childhood; Mary, now 
the wife of Samuel Kerr, an attorney of 
Chicago; Nellie, at home; and George W. , 
our subject. William S. Dunton has one 
brother, George B., who lives at Belvidere, 



and two sisters, Adeline, who married David 
Underbill, and Susan, who married Chauncy 
Borland. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
Belvidere and after' receiving his primary 
education in the public schools of that 
place entered the State University of Iowa, 
at Iowa City, in 1871, from which he was 
graduated in the classical course in 1875. 
He then entered the Union Law College of 
Chicago in the fall of 1875 and was gradu- 
ated from that institution in June, 1877. 
Among the lecturers at that time in the col- 
lege were V. B. Denslow, Harvey B. Hurd, 
Judge Lyman Trumbull, Senator J. R. Doo- 
little, James L. High and Judge Booth, to- 
gether with Dr. N. S. Davis as lecturer on 
medical jurisprudence. 

In the fall of 1877 Mr. Dunton com- 
menced practice in Sycamore, forming a 
partnership with R. L. Devine, who was 
then one of the leading members of the bar 
of De Kalb county. His first few years in 
practice was mostly in preparing cases and 
drawing up pleadings for the causes. Type- 
writers were not then in use, and as Mr. 
Devine was a very busy man with an exten- 
sive practice, this duty devolved upon the 
junior partner. It was, however, a good 
drill, and in after years in practice it has 
lieen very useful to him. The partnership 
with Mr. Devine was dissolved in 1880, and 
Mr. Dunton continued alone until the fall of 
i88g, when he formed his present partner- 
ship with Duane J. Carnes. While in part- 
nership with Mr. Devine they had a large 
general practice, in which they were very 
successful. While alone his practice was 
chiefly in chancery and business litigation 
and settling up of estates, in which he was 
especially adapted and successful. 

Mr. Dunton was united in marriage 



224 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



August 6, 1 88 5, with Miss Levina S. Den- 
ton, a native of De Kalb county, Illinois, 
and a dauD;hter of Solomon and Olive Den- 
ton, both natives of Dutchess county, New 
York. Her father, who was a farmer by 
occupation, died in 1864, but her mother 
is yet living. They had a family of seven 
children, Rebecca, Julia, Mary, LaviniaS., 
Gilbert H., Elizabeth and George, all of 
whom are living except the latter. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Dunton two children have been 
born, Martha A., born July 2, 1888, and 
Mary O., born March 18, 1892. 

In politics Mr. Dunton is a Republican. 
He has been a member of the board of edu- 
cation, of which he was president for a time. 
In business he has been quite successful. 
He is a stockholder and director in the 
Sycamore National Bank. Mr. Dunton is 
held as a sound student of law and a safe, 
reliable counselor. His special forte is in 
chancery cases and probate, in preparing 
cases for trial, and drawing up pleadings. 
He has been connected with some of the 
most important cases in De Kalb county, 
and with his partner forms one of the 
strongest law firms in the county. He is a 
man of pleasing address and very popular. 



GOTTLIEB F. HUEBER is one of the 
most substantial farmers in De Kalb 
county, and resides in section 3, Malta 
township. He was born in Wurtemberg, 
Germanj', September 12, 1828, and is the 
son of Jacob and Philopene (Colmer) 
Hueber, both natives of Germany, where 
their entire lives were passed, the former 
dying in 1833 and the latter in 1865. They 
were the parents of ten children, of whom 
our subject was fourth in order of birth. 
In his native land, Gottlieb F. Hueber 



grew to manhood and received a fairly good 
education. The news from the new world, 
which reached the fatherland, was of such a 
nature as to induce him to immigrate, and 
in 1850 he came to this country with Jacob 
Willrett, who has become wealthy and lives 
in De Kalb county, locating first in Penn- 
sylvania, where he remained nearly two 
years. In 1S55 he came to Illinois and lo- 
cated in Malta township, De Kalb county, 
where he purchased eighty acres of land in 
its primitive state. This he brought into 
subjection by plowing, and beautified it by 
the erection of commodious buildings. To 
the first eighty acres he added another 
eight}', upon which he. now resides. Later 
he purchased a quarter-section on section i, 
which was somewhat improved, but which 
he improved still more by applying to it his 
labor and genius. He afterwards pur- 
chased another eighty acres on section 3, 
which was also partially improved, and still 
later bought one hundred and twenty acres, 
which he has since sold to his son Fred- 
erick, who now resides upon it. Lately he 
purchased another eighty acres. 

On the 31st of March, 1858, Mr. Hueber 
was joined in wedlock with Miss Elizabeth 
Heiderscheid, by whom he had twelve chil- 
dren, of whom the following are yet living: 
Elizabeth, Carrie W. , John WilUiam, Fred- 
erick Jacob, George Emanuel. Laura Mar- 
garet, Gottlieb David and William Nicholas. 
Mrs. Hueber was born in Lu.xemberg, Ger- 
many, February 20, 1829, and died March 
22, 1898. 

Mr. Hueber is a practical farmer in 
every respect. His stock is well cared for 
and of good blood, his buildings of modern 
construction, his fields clean and neat, 
while his fences are strong and secure. He 
has no hobby in his farming, but devotes 




G. F. HUEBER. 




MRS. G. F. HUEBER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



229 



himself to a general line. He has been 
very successful in life, and has an abun- 
dance for the old age that is coming upon 
him. Religiously he is a member of the 
German Evangelical Association, of which 
his wife was also a member. 



GENERAL EVERELL FLETCHER 
DUTTON. — Prominent among the 
business men of Sycamore is the subject of 
this sketch, who for many years has been 
closely identified with the history of the 
city, while his name is inseparably con- 
nected with its financial records. The 
banking interests are well represented by 
him, for he is to-day at the head of the 
Sycamore National Bank, the leading 
moneyed institution of this place. He is a 
man of keen discrimination and sound judg- 
ment, and his executive ability and excellent 
management have brought to the concern 
with which he is connected a high degree of 
success. The safe, conservative policy which 
he inaugurated commends itself to the judg- 
ment of all, and the success of the bank is 
certainly due in a large measure to him, and 
through it he has promoted the welfare of 
the city. 

General Button is a native of New 
Hampshire, born in Sullivan county, Janu- 
ary 4, 183S. His father, Hon. William P. 
Dutton, was a native of Charleston, New 
Hampshire, born August i, 18 17. He mar- 
ried Lucinda J. Blood, also a native of the 
same town and state, born January 28, 
1818. They were married in 1835 and after 
remaining in their native state for nine 
years, where he engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, they then resolved to come west. Ac- 
cordingly, in 1844, they came to Illinois, 
locating first at St. Charles, Kane county, 



and later removing to Du Page county and 
subsequently settling at Sycamore, De Kalb 
county, where, until 1857, the elder Dutton 
engaged in the mercantile trade, and was 
also the landlord of the Sycamore House, 
the leading hotel in the city. During the 
administration of President Pierce he held 
the office of postmaster at Sycamore. He 
was reared in the Jackson school of politics, 
and from his earliest manhood was plain 
and outspoken in his political views. The 
doctrines held by the abolitionists were very 
distasteful to him, and during the agitation 
of the freesoil (juestion he went to Kansas 
to vigorously denounce those principles and 
confidently expected to be confirmed in his 
views, and that the report of his investiga- 
tions there would undoubtedly strengthen 
the party, giving prestige to those views. 

Of one thing it could be said of William 
P. Dutton, and that is that he was open to 
conviction. When he saw with his own 
eyes'the terrible and sad condition of the 
people of that distracted country, he exper- 
ienced a complete change of opinion, and 
there openly and unhesitatingly declared 
himself in favor of the free state idea, which 
he had previously so vigorously condemned. 
This course cost him 'his political position, 
the postofflce at Sycamore. Being then at 
liberty, he at once changed his residence, 
removing to Kansas, settling on a farm in 
Stanton, then Lykens county. Within a 
year after his arrival he was elected treas- 
urer of the county, and was later re-elected, 
serving two terms. In 1859 he was chosen 
a member of the constitutional convention, 
which assembled at Wyandotte, and took 
an active part in forming the constitution. 
In i86[, when Kansas was admitted to the 
union, he was elected sheriff of his county, 
the name of which had then been changed 



2?0 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to Miami county. For the better perform- 
ance of his duties he removed to Paola, the 
county seat, which continued tobe his home 
until 1873. In 1863, he was re-elected 
sheriff and served his second term. During 
the war he was a conspicuous figure in Kan- 
sas affairs, and a strong supporter of the 
government, serving on the staff of the gov- 
ernor. In 1873, he returned to Illinois, 
and until 1876 he devoted himself to agri- 
cultural pursuits, when he returned to Pa- 
ola, Kansas, where he resided until his 
death in 188S. His wife died at Sycamore, 
June 15, 1875. Besides our subject the 
children born to William P. and Lucinda 
J. Dutton, were Emma, who married Aaron 
K. Stiles, of Chicago; and Charles E., of 
Oakland, California. Everell Fletcher Dut- 
ton was eight years of age when his parents 
settled in Sycamore, and during the eleven 
years preceding his father's removal to 
Kansas, he assisted iu the store and post- 
office and attended the public schools, Clos- 
ing his studies with a year at Mt. Morris, 
Illinois, and a similar period at Beloit, Wis- 
consin. After the removal of the famil}* to 
Kansas, he assisted his • father on the farm 
until 1858, when he returned to Sycamore, 
aad served as deputy "clerk under the Hon. 
A. K. Styles, until April, 1861. 

On the 1 8th of April, 1861, yoimg Dut- 
ton responded to the call of President Lin- 
coln for troops to aid in the suppression of 
the rebellion, and was mustered into the 
state service at Dixon, Illinois, May 10, and 
into the United States service May 24. 
His company was made a part of tfie Thir- 
teenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Z. B. 
Mayo was elected captain of the company, 
which was known as Company F, and Mr. 
Dutton was chosen first lieutenant. On the 
1 6th of June the regiinent went to Case\'- 



ville, Illinois, to look after the se- 
cession element at that place, and, 
July 6. mo\ed on to Rolla, Missouri. 
In August, Lieutenant Dutton was promot- 
ed to the command of his company, Cap- 
tain Mayo having resigned. The regiment 
remained at Rolla till the last of October, 
doing, in addition to its regular military serv- 
ice, cavalry duty, looking after guerrillas and 
bushwhackers in and about that section of 
the country. From Rolla they moved by 
forced marches to Springfield, Missouri, 
making the one hundred and twenty miles 
in four days, and were placed in General 
Fremont's command, under whom the reg- 
iment remained until that general was su- 
perseded. 

The Thirteenth was ordered back to 
Rolla, March 6, 1862, and was assigned to 
the conmiand of General Curtis. It was 
then sent to Pea Ridge, marching, at the 
rate of twent\-five miles per day. During 
this campaign the regiment suffered great 
hardships, being compelled for daj-s to sub- 
sist on parched corn and whortleberries. 
Its campaign down the White River was 
especially hazardous and severe, suffering 
from cold and want of food, and then chang- 
ing to intense heat with no water except 
from the cypress swamps abounding with 
reptiles and filth, many of the wells being 
poisoned as the troops approached. After 
three months experience of this character 
the regiment reached Helena, July 14, with 
half of its number sick. In August, Cap- 
tain Dutton was sent home sick, and while 
there was commissioned major of the One 
Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
try, which was raised in De Kalb and Du 
Page counties. On the 22d of September, 
he was transferred to that command, by or- 
der of the secretary of war, proceeding with 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2.U 



it a few days later to Louisville, Kentuck}', 
where it was assigned to the army under 
General Rosecrans, then in camp near 
Bowling Green. 

On the iith of November, the brigade 
to which the One Hundred and Fifth was 
attached was ordered to Scottsville, Ken- 
tucky, and November 25th" marched to 
Gallatin, Tennessee, where it went into 
winter quarters. On the iith of December 
the regiment was moved to Tunnel Hill 
where it remained till February i, 1863, 
when it rejoined its brigade at Gallatin, con- 
tinuing there until the close of the spring. 
During these six months of arduous cam- 
paigning. Major Dutton had charge of the 
scouts of the brigade, some two hundred and 
fifty in number, and was almost constantly 
in the saddle. June i, 1863, the regiment 
proceeded to Lavergiie, and a month later to 
Murfreesboro. Later it was ordered back to 
Lavergne, and August 19 entered Fort 
Negley, at Nashville, where it remained until 
February, 1864. 

While at Nashville, Major Dutton was 
made a member of the board constituted by 
the war department for the purpose of ex- 
amining and assigning officers to the regi- 
ments of colored men, remaining on that 
duty till May 1st, when he rejoined his 
regiment, which was then assigned to the 
First Brigade, Third Division, Twentieth 
Army Corps, commanded by General Joseph 
Hooker, in which it served until the close of 
the war. In the battle of Resaca, the One 
Hundred and Fifth took a distinguished part, 
and for its gallantry was especially compli- 
mented. In the campaign through Georgia 
.and the Carol inas, the regiment also won 
the most favorable distinction for its gallan- 
try and achievements, and in the war re- 
ports had favorable mention. From July 13 



to August 4, Major Dutton had command of 
the regiment. Colonel Dustin being absent. 
During this period the battle of Peach Tree 
Creek was fought (July 20), in which the 
One Hundred and Fifth washeavily engaged 
and had the honor of capturing the flag of the 
Twelfth Louisiana Reginient. The brigade 
was then commanded by General Harrison, 
afterwards president of the United States. 
The record of the regiment during the entire" 
.Atlanta campaign was specially brilliant, 
taking part in the battles of Resaca, Cass- 
ville, New Hope 'Church, Golgotha, Peach 
Tree Creek and Atlanta. 

Early in August, 1864, Major Dutton 
was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and 
soon afterwards to the colonelcy, his senior 
officer. Col. Dustin, having been appointed 
brigadier general. From Atlanta the One 
Hundred and Fifth marched with Sherman 
to the sea, and from Savannah through the 
Carolinas to Goldsboro and Raleigh, thence 
through Richmond to Washington, partici- 
pating in the battles of Lawtonville, Smiths 
Farm and Averysboro, the latter being 
fought March 15, 1865. During this last 
engagement, the One Hundred and Fifth 
drove the enemy from its works and cap- 
tured two twelve-pound guns, which Col. 
Dutton and some of his men turned and 
fired on the retreating enemy. 

For gallantry and meritorious services 
in the campaign in Georgia and the Caroli- 
nas and for distinguished services at tha bat- 
tle of Smiths Farm, North Carolina, Col. 
Dutton was breveted brigadier general of 
United States volunteers, with rank from 
March 15, 1865. He was mustered out of 
service at Washington, June 7, 1863, after 
a continuous service of four years and two 
months. Returning to Sycamore, in 1868, 
he was elected clerk of the circuit court 



232 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of De Kalb county, in which capacity he 
officiated for eight years. In the winter of 
1877, during the session of the thirteenth 
general assembly of Illinois, he was elected 
clerk of the house. In 1878, he was 
elected clerk of the northern grand divi- 
sion of the Supreme Court of Illinois, which 
position he held until December i, 1S84, 
discharging the duties of the office in such a 
inanner as to win the admiration of the 
court and bar. 

In 1883, General Dutton became asso- 
ciated with the Sycamore' National Bank, 
purchasing a large proportion of its stock, 
and on the death of J. S. \\'aterman be- 
came president, a position that he still 
holds. Naturally conservative, by his in- 
fluence he has added strength to the bank 
and secured the confidence of the entire 
community. Few banks have a better rep- 
utation than the Sycamore National, which 
has always been a successful institution and, 
has gained in popularity under the wise ad- 
ministration of General Dutton and his as- 
sociates. In addition to his banking inter- 
ests, the General has large real estate hold- 
ings, and in addition to much farming land 
in De I\alb county, he owns large tracts in 
other northwestern states. Success has 
crowned him in all his business interests. 

General Dutton was united in marriage 
at Sycamore, Illinois, December 31, 1863, 
with Miss Rosina Adelpha Paine, a native 
of Herkimer county, New York, and a 
daughter of Harmon and Clarinda (Van 
Horn) Paine, the former born at German 
Flats, Herkimer county, New York, July 
25, 1S22, and the latter at Springfield, New 
York, February 26, 1824. Her parents 
moved to Sycamore, in 1853, and for many 
years her father was proprietor of Paine's 
Hotel at that place. Of late years he has 



been engaged in agricultural pursuits. The 
great-grandfather of Mrs. Dutton, Thomas 
Van Horn, was a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary war with the rank of lieutenant. By 
reason of this fact Mrs. Dutton has become 
a member of the Daughters of the Revolu- 
tion. To Mr. and Mrs. Dutton two sons 
have been born. George Everell, who was 
born May 8, 186S, graduated at Lombard 
l'ni\ersity, Galesburg, Illinois, and is now 
associated with his father in the banking 
business at Sycamore. William Paine was 
born April 25, 1872, and is at present finish- 
ing his education at Harvard University. 

Following in the footsteps of his father, 
and strengthened by the lessons of the Civil 
war, General Dutton has ever been an 
earnest Republican, and has rendered valu- 
able services to his party, which have been 
duly appreciated. Religiously both he and 
his wife affiliate with the Universalist 
church, in the work of which they take an 
active part. 



JOHN KING, who for more than a third 
of a century has been station agent at 
Cortland, Illinois, is a native of Pemberton, 
Burlington county. New Jersey, born No- 
vember 28, 1834, and is the son of William 
and Margaret (Pippit) King, both of whom 
were natives of New Jersey, and were the 
parents of seven children, three of whom 
died in infancy and one, Isaiah, after reach- 
ing maturity. He was a Methodist Episco- 
pal minister and was secretary of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal conference in his native 
state. The living are John, Elizabeth and 
Margaret. The paternal grandfather, WiU- 
iam King, was a native of England, and 
emigrated to this country when quite young, 
locating in New Jersey. The father was a 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



233 



carpenter by trade, and lived to be over 
eighty years of age. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
his native town and county and educated 
in its pubUc schools. He remained under 
the parental roof until twenty-one years of 
age, and then like many others came west 
with a view of bettering his condition in life. 
While yet in the east he learned the carpen- 
ter's trade with his father, and in 1856 took 
up his residence in Morrison, Whiteside 
county, Illinois, where he worked at his 
trade a few years, and then entered the em- 
ploy of the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
way Company as a clerk. In 1864 he took 
the agency at Cortland. Illinois, where he 
has since continued to reside in the faithful 
discharge of his duties for a period of over 
thirty-four years as station and express 
agent. 

In 1 866 Mr. King was united in marriage 
with Miss Sarah A. Pierce, a native of Dela- 
ware county, New York, and a daughter of 
Isaac and Eunice (Judd) Pierce. By this 
union there are three children: Millie, Mary 
and Margaret. 

In politics Mr. King is a gold Democrat, 
believing in the principles advocated by the 
old leaders of the party, and that honesty 
in monetary matters should govern as well 
as honesty in other things. He is now 
president of the board of trustees of the vil- 
lage, and treasurer of the school board. He 
has also served as a member of the county 
board of supervisors with credit to himself 
and satisfaction to his constituents. He 
and his family attend the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. In addition to his other prop- 
erty, he is the owner of one hundred and 
thirty acres of land near the village of Cort- 
land, which is under a high state of cultiva- 
tion and which yields an abundant increase 



for the toil and labor expended on it. So- 
cially Mr. King atid his family are greatly 
esteemed and highly honored in the com- 
munity which has so long been their home. 



EDWIN HAIT, the present efficient su- 
pervisor of Franklin township, and a 
heavy stock dealer of Kirkland, is a native 
of the township, born December 2, 1853, 
and is the son of Jonas and Emeline (Shat- 
tuck) Hait, both natives of New York state, 
and who were the parents of three children, 
Mary, Edwin and Emma. Desiring to bet- 
ter his condition in life, Jonas Hait came to 
De Kalb county. Illinois, in 1836, and took 
up a claim of three hundred and twenty 
acres, in what is now Franklin and Kingston 
townships, and which he purchased as soon 
as the land came into market. He at once 
set about the improvement of the place, and 
in due time had a good, productive farm. 
He was not, however, long to enjoy the fruits 
of his labor, for he died in 1858, at the age of 
forty-five years. He was a good man and 
well respected in the community, and served 
his township as supervisor for a number of 
years. 

The subject of this sketch was born on 
the farm which his father located in 1836, 
and there grew to manhood, and has spent 
his entire life in farming and stock dealing. 
His education was obtained in the district 
schools, and the knowledge therein obtained 
has been supplemented by reading and con- 
tact with the world. On the 29th of De- 
cember, 1875, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Ida J. Rote, also a native of 
Franklin township, and a daughter of Hixon 
Rote, a native of Pennsylvania and a pio- 
ner of DeKalb county. By this union three 



234 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



children were born, two of whom died in 
infancy. The living one is Morris. 

In politics Mr. Hait is a Republican, and 
has voted the party ticket since attaininj; 
his majority. He has ever taken an active 
interest in political affairs, and has been for 
some years one of the leaders of the party 
in Franklin township. He is at present a 
member of the village board of Kirkland, as 
well as supervisor of the township. For a 
number of years he has served as school 
director in the old I-acy district, and has 
freely given of his time to advance the in- 
terests of the public schools. He has one 
hundred and si.xty acres oi fine land, which 
was the old Hait homestead. For some 
years he has been engaged in stock-dealing, 
buying and shipping to the eastern markets, 
and has built up a good trade. A very pop- 
ular man, he has many friends throughout 
the county. 



WILLIAM W. WYLDE is a substantial 
farmer residing in the village of Genoa. 
He is a native of Somersetshire, England, 
born February 28, 1841, and is the son of 
William and Maria (Webb) Wylde, both of 
whom were natives of the same country. 
They emigrated to the United States in the 
fall of 1843, and came directly west, locat- 
ing in Spring township, Boone county, Illi- 
nois, where they resided eight years. They 
then moved into the city of Belvidere, where 
the father died at the age of forty-four years. 
He was the son of John W'ylde, who came 
to America with him and who survived him 
two years, dying in 1857, wdien about eighty- 
one years of age. After the death of her 
husband Mrs. Maria Wylde was again united 
in marriage, her second union being with 
George Harding. She is still living in Bel- 



\idere, at the age of eighty-one years. She 
does all her own house work, including 
washing, ironing and baking, and each Sun- 
day she walks one mile to church. 

The subject of this sketch had limited 
school privileges, and at the age of twelve 
years assumed his own support. He worked 
as a farm hand until twenty-one years of 
age, having been placed with a man who 
promised to care for him the nine years un- 
til he attained his majoritj' and give him in 
the end three hundred and fifty dollars. The 
man failed, and he got nothing for all his 
years of labor-. .At the age of twenty- one 
he commenced life anew and worked by the 
month for two years, saved his money and 
purchased a farm of one hundred acres near 
Genoa, on which he lived until removing to 
the village in 1891. He was always eco- 
nomical and a good manager, and in due time 
had saved enough to buy another farm of 
one hundred and si.xty acres lying some forty 
rods from his first farm. He now rents the 
larger farm, but personally attends to the 
cultivation of the smaller one. For some 
time he has been engaged 111 dairy farming, 
keeping from thirty to thirty-live head of 
milch cows. On his two farms he has made 
many improvements, built a dwelling on 
each, together with two barns, and has also 
drained them with thirty thousand feet of 
tile. Frequently he has planted orchards, but 
has never met with succes.". in the raising of 
fruit. 

Mr. Wylde has been twice married, his 
first union being with Miss Martha Thomp- 
son, a native of McHenry county, Illinois, 
who died in 1892, at the age of fort)' two 
\ears. On the 2nd of Januar\', 1896, he 
married Mrs. Cornelia Bunnell, wido.v of 
Sherman Bunnell, by whom she had one 
daughter, Hazel Blanche. Mrs. Wylde was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



235 



born in Genoa township, and is a daughter 
of David and Mary fBabcock) Davis, the 
latter being a daughter of William H. and 
Cornelia (Hogcboom) Babcock. William 
Babcock was the son of Abram and Susan 
(Lee) Babcock, the latter being a relati\e 
of General Robert E. Lee. Cornelia Hoge- 
boom was the daughter of Andrew and Julia 
(Distant) Hogeboom, who were among the 
first settlers of Hampshire township, Kane 
county, Illinois. David Davis was the son 
of Alfred C. Davis. By trade he was a car- 
penter and builder, and died in 1880, at the 
age of fort}' years. To our subject and 
wife a son has been born, Donovan Oscar. 
In the spring of 1898, Mr. Wylde began 
the erection of one of the largest and finest 
residences in Genoa. It is of pleasing ar- 
chitecture, well arranged, light and airy, 
and has eleven large rooms. In politics 
Mr. Wylde is a Republican, and has served 
as supervisor of his township and in minor 
township offices. He is a spiritualist in 
belief, being a medium and having the un- 
known power to heal, a power which he 
cannot e.xplain, but merely knows it e.xists. 



JOHN GREEN, one of De Kalb county's 
representative and thriving fanners, 
owns and operates a farm of three hundred 
and twenty acres, located on sections 4 and 
5, Shabbona township. He was born March 
30, 1857, in Monroe county. New York, and 
is the son of Peter and Catherine (Ivies) 
Green, whose family comprised three chil- 
dren: William E. , John and Elizabeth. 

Moved by a desire to better his condi- 
tion, and learning the prospects held out in 
the west, where the same effort as was ex- 
erted in Monroe count}'. New York, would 
shortly result in ownership of choice land in 



Illinois, Peter Green brought his family to 
De Kalb county. Illinois, in 1864, and pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres of par- 
tiall)' improved land. He immediately set 
about further improving his property bv the 
erection of buildings, setting out orchards 
and Shade trees, tiling the land, and con- 
tinued to cultivate the place until 1881, 
when he moved to the village of Shabbona, 
and lived a retired life until his death, July 
21, 1890, leaving a vvidow, who survived 
him several years and who died December 
2r, 1896. 

John Green came west vvitli his parents 
to De Kalb county, Illinois, in the spring 
of 1S64, and has since been identified with 
its growth and prosperity. He was but 
seven years of age on his arrival here and 
grew to manhood in the old homestead, and 
received his education in the district school 
in the neighborhood. After his school days 
were over he took up the pursuit of farm- 
ing, working with and aiding his father in 
the many duties and responsibilities their 
avocation exacted. 

Mr. Green was married September 13, 
1 88 1, to Miss Catherine Erbes, daughter of 
George Erbes, a prominent and highly re- 
spected farmer living a few miles west of 
the town of Lee, Lee county, Illinois. By 
this union they became the parents of a 
happy family of five bright children, all of 
whom are attending school in the neigh- 
borhood. 

Mr. Green has always been identified 
with the Republican party, advocating its 
principles, and voting the party ticket, na- 
tional, state and county. He has never held 
nor sought office, his private affairs and re- 
sponsibilities being of such nature as to 
claim his whole attention. • In educational 
affairs the growth and development of the 



236 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



public school system have always received 
his sympathy and support, and his efforts 
in this direction take form in the discharge 
of the duties of school director, an office 
which he now holds. 

Since coming to De Kalb county, a boy 
of seven years, Mr. Green has witnessed 
the progress of events which year by year 
have taken place, resulting in a complete 
transformation. Where existed the raw 
prairies are now the fertile fields; the rude 
cabin has given way to homes of statelier 
aspect and proportions, and wild nature ex- 
hibits in every detail the civilizing influences 
which individual effort and industry have 
resulted in making the state of Illinois fore- 
most among the agricultural states of the 
Union. A combination of effort has ef- 
fected these changes, and like other enter- 
prising and industrious men, |ohn Green 
has contributed his full share. He has but 
lately added by purchase one hundred and 
sixty acres of the old homestead, and his 
interests consist of three hundred and 
twenty acres of De Kalb county's most fer- 
tile land. He is one of the county's popu- 
lar and esteemed citizens, his integrity, in- 
dustry and well regulated habits inviting 
and fostering the respect and confidence of 
those who know him. 



AHRAM ELLWOOD was for some 
years one of Sycamore's best known 
citizens, one whose life record is a com- 
mendable one. Only those lives are worth 
recording that have been potential factors 
in the public progress, in promoting the 
general welfare, or advancing the educa- 
tional or moral interests of the community. 
Abram Ellwood was ever faithful to his 
duties of citizenship, and by the successful 



conduct of his business interests not only 
promoted his individual success, but also 
promoted the general prosperity. In his 
life's span of forty-seven years, he accomp- 
lished much and left behind an honorable 
record worth}' of perpetuation. He was a 
man of the highest respectability, and those 
who were most intimately associated with 
him speak in unqualified terms of his 
sterling integrity, his honor in business 
affairs and his fidelity to all the duties of 
public and private life. 

Mr. Ellwood was born in Scotia, 
Schenectady count\'. New York, March 26, 
1S50, and was the son of Reuben and 
Eleanor (Vedder) Ellwood, the former a 
native of Minden, Montgomery county. 
New York, and the latter of Schenectady. 
Reuben Ellwood, the father, was for years 
one of the leading manufacturers of De 
Kalb county, was well known throughout 
the state and nation, and for two terms 
served his district as a member of the United 
States house of representatives. His death 
occurred July i, 1885, while his wife sur- 
vived him about ten years. 

In the public schools of Sycamore 
Abram Ellwood 'received his primary educa- 
tion. He then attended a military college 
at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he re- 
mained until the age of sixteen years, when 
he began life for himself, at once display- 
ing that energy, independence and self- 
reliance that burned out the fires of his 
life many years before his time. Being a 
sturdy youth, he secures a position as brake- 
man on the railroad, and was thus employed 
two years, then went south and assumed a 
more responsible position, that of con- 
tractor on the New Orleans, Mobile and 
Texas Railroad, afterward serving as pas- 
senger conductor on this line. Notwith- 




ABRAM ELLWOOD. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



239 



standing that he was but eighteen years old, 
he displayed executive abilit}' far beyond 
his years. He was next on the Milwaukee 
& Northern Railroad as constructor, with 
headquarters at Green Bay, Wisconsin. 
Later he was United States mail agent, on 
the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, 
from which he was transferred to the Chi- 
cago & Northwestern Railway, between 
Chicago and Cedar Rapids. His last run in 
the mail service was between Chicago and 
Cincinnati. 

On the 3d of January, 1876, Mr. Eliwood 
was united in marriage at Manchester, New 
Hampshire, with Miss Emma L. Garvin, a 
native of Chichester, New Hampshire, and 
a daughter of Jesse and Eunice (Leavitt) 
Garvin, the former a native of Garvin Falls, 
New Hampshire, and the latter of Chiches- 
ter, in the same state, and the daughter of 
Jonathan Leavitt. To this union there 
were five children, four of whom are now 
living, — Mildred G., Sallie E., E. Eleanor 
and A. Leonard. Reuben, Jr., died at the 
age of three and a half years. 

In the fall of 1877, our subject became 
associated with his father in the manufact- 
uring business in Sycamore, under the firm 
name of the R. Eliwood Manufacturing 
Company. This connection was continued 
until the fall of 1880, when he engaged in 
the manufacture of wire fence stretchers, 
which he successfully conducted for four 
years. In December, 1884, that business 
was consolidated with the R. Eliwood Man- 
ufacturing Company, and he was made 
manager for the entire business. After the 
death of the father he purchased the entire 
stock and plant and continued the business 
under the firm name of the Abram Eliwood 
Company. He perfected many of the ma- 
chines in his plant, and succeeded in build- 
12 



ing up a very extensive trade, and employed 
a large number of men. His success at- 
tracted the attention of the citizens of other 
places, and he was offered a bonus of thirty- 
five thousand dollars if he would remove the 
plant to De Kalb. This offer he accepted, 
and in 1892 removed to De Kalb, looking 
after the erection of buildings from his own 
plans, which made one of the most com- 
plete manufacturing concerns in the country. 
In the fall of 1896 Mr. Eliwood formed 
a stock company, in order that he might 
relieve himself of much of the hard work 
that was gradually breaking him down. He 
was a man of wonderful energj', who did 
honestly everything that he undertook, and 
the excessive mental strain required in the 
prosecution of his business hastened, if not 
entirely induced, his death. A short time 
prior to his death, he took up quarters at 
the sanitarium, Battle Creek, Michigan, but 
it was of no avail, the disease being too far 
advanced. He died No\'ember 11, 1897, 
while yet in the prime of life and usefulness. 
a martyr to self-imposed duty. From a 
small beginning he had developed the busi- 
ness to one of large proportions, employing 
from seventy-five to one hundred men, to 
whom he ever showed the greatest kindness 
and consideration. Politically he was a 
Republican, but never a partisan. Because 
of his business ability, rather than his pol- 
itical training, he was called upon to serve 
as alderman of the city, and also as its 
mayor, serving in the latter position from 
1889 to 1 891. A friend of education, he 
served for some years as a member of the 
school board to the entire satisfaction of 
the people. Before his death he became a 
communicant of the Congregational church, 
and was faithful to the last, dying in the 
full assurance of faith and in the hope 



240 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of a resurrection and a reunion of loved ones 
beyond tfie grave. Mrs. Elhvood and her 
two oldest children are also members of the 
same church. Fraternally, Mr. Ellwood 
was a Mason of high standing. 



SAMUEL PETERSON, contractor and 
builder, residing in De Kalb, is a na- 
tive of Sweden, born in 1855, and is the 
son of John and Mary Peterson, both na- 
tives of the same country, who emigrated 
to the United States in 1869, locating in 
De Kalb township, De Ivalb county, Illi- 
nois, where some of their relatives had 
previously located. John Peterson was a 
cooper by trade, and followed that occupa- 
tion during his entire residence in De Kalb. 
His death occurred in 1892, his wife pre- 
ceding him to their heavenly home some 
twenty-one years, dying in 1871. Their 
family consisted of eight children, five of 
whom are yet living. 

Samuel Peterson, our subject, was four- 
teen years of age when he came with his 
parents to this country. For about five 
years after his arrival he worked on various 
farms. His father and a brother being 
mechanics, he associated himself with them 
and soon learned the carpenter's trade, 
which he has followed continuously to the 
piesent time. He is a first-class workman, 
and has done much of the best work in De 
Kalb for the past twenty years. He keeps 
under his supervision twenty men, repre- 
senting the various trades employed in the 
construction and completion of dwellings. 
In 1896 he erected thirty-one houses in De 
Kalb, a greater number than was ever built 
by one man in any previous year. 

In 1883 Mr. Peterson married Miss 
Christine Peterson, a native of Sweden, 



born July 7, 1862, and the daughter of 
John Peterson, also a native of Sweden, 
who removed to this country about 1869. 
By this union si.\ children were born: Edna 
G., August I, 1884; Roy M., October 7, 
1886; Earl R., October 10, 1889; Irving, 
August 4, 1891; Ruth L., July 19, 1894; 
and Anna M., September 16, 1897. 

By his industry and gentlemanly de- 
portment, Mr. Peterson has endeared him- 
self to the people of De Kalb and built for 
himself not only an e.xtensive business, but 
a name that will last. He has been fortu- 
nate in his business ventures and is the 
owner of a number of lots in the city, on 
which he has built neat and comfortable 
residences, and has now thirty-one buildings 
under his care, with a monthly revenue 
from this source of o\er three hundred 
dollars. The estimation in which he is 
held by the people is shown by his elec- 
tion as alderman for the fourth year, an 
office he fills with credit to himself and 
honor to those whom he represents. Like 
every clear-headed man, who looks into the 
future and plans for emergencies which 
cannot be averted, he has for several years 
carried for himself and wife heavy insur- 
ance policies. He is a member of the Swe- 
dish Lutheran church, of which body his 
wife is also a member. 



EDWARD B. POWERS, a leading and 
influential farmer, residing on section 
33, Paw Paw township, owns and cultivates 
a farm of two hundred acres in the home 
place, and one hundred and sixty in another 
farm. He was born in La Salle county, 
Illinois, September 16, 1S41. His father, 
Norman H. Powers, and his grandfather 
Powers were natives of Vermont. The 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



241 



latter was a hunter of repute, with a family 
of seventeen children. He removed from 
Vermont with his family, to New York, in 
an early day, and there Norman Powers 
grew to manhood. Early in the thirties, 
when a young man, he went west, and set- 
tled in La Salle county, Illinois, and later 
returned east, and in Canada married 
Catherine Hart, a native of Scotland, and 
a daughter of James Hart, also a native of 
Scotland, who was for many years a veteri- 
nary surgeon in the English army, and who 
settled in Canada after leaving the service. 
Immediately after his marriage, Norman 
Powers returned with his bride to La Salle 
county and located in what is now Earl 
township, where he improved a farm, which 
he later sold, and purchased the place where 
his son now resides. He entered this land 
with a soldier's warrant, and it comprised 
one hundred and sixty acres in its native 
state. There was not a house in sight when 
he purchased the place. He bought an old 
frame house, which he moved on the tract, 
and there resided while erecting a more 
comfortable residence. All the lumber used 
in the house, he hauled from Chicago. 
As soon as located, he at once commenced 
the improvement of the farm, the first year 
putting in a crop of five acres of corn. At 
that time wild game, geese, ducks and 
prairie chickens, were in abundance, and 
they ate up almost the entire crop. In the 
spring of 1852, he started with an ox team, 
in company with four men, for California, 
making the overland trip, and spent about 
two years in getting out ship timbers; while 
there he was fairly successful, but was glad 
to return to his Illinois farm. He returned 
by way of the Isthmus of Panama, to New 
York, and from there by rail to his home. 
After his return he was elected supervisor 



of his township, and held several other mi- 
nor official positions. In 1 86 1, he enlisted 
in Company I, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and 
with his regiment went to the front. At 
the battle of Pittsburg Landing he was 
wounded by a piece of shell, and perma- 
nently disabled. He was therefore dis- 
charged, returned home, and later gave up 
the farm and removed to Earlville, Illinois, 
where he resided some three or four years, 
then went to Scranton, Iowa, and died at 
the residence of a daughter, June 7, 1882. 
His wife survived him a number of years 
and passed awa}' April 6, 1896. They were 
the parents of two sons and three daughters, 
Edward B., our subject being the first born. 
Christie is the wife of Hon. H. M. Board- 
man, whose sketch appears elsowhere in 
this work. Susan A. is the wife of J. E. 
Moss, of Scranton, Iowa. Elizabeth died 
in April, 1861, at the age of twelve years. 
Horace E. is a lawyer by profession and is 
engaged in practice at Scranton, Iowa. 

Edward B. Powers grew to manhood on 
the home farm, where he received very 
limited educational advantages. After his 
father was discharged and returned home 
from the army, he enlisted, August 15, 1862, 
joining his father's old company and regi- 
ment. His father returned home on Sat- 
urday night, and on the following Tuesday 
he enlisted and joined the regiment at Tren- 
ton, Tennessee. With his regiment he en- 
gaged in scouting duty, and in the fall of 
1862, at Chestnut Bluffs, Tennessee, he was 
taken prisoner by the enemy and held for 
about eighteen hours, when he was paroled 
and returned to his regiment. After his ex- 
change, he served until the close of the war, 
and was discharged at Springfield, Illinois, 
in July, 1865. When he enlisted he left the 
harvest field with the wheat uncut and the 



54^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



reaper in the field, where it remained until 
the next spring, when it was pulled out in 
order to plant a new crop. The war senti- 
ment in his neighborhood at that time was 
very strong, and nearly every able-bodied 
mad enlisted. 

After his discharge, Mr. Powers returned 
home and worked for various farmers until 
the fall of 1867, when he purchased a farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres, on section 
28, Paw Paw township, a partially improved 
place. On the first of December, 1867, in 
De Kalb county, he married Miss Nancy A. 
Weddell, born in Paw Paw township, and a 
daughter of W. B. Weddell, one of the 
early settlers of the county. By this union 
there were three children. Katie C. grew 
to mature years and died single at the age 
of twenty-one years. Agnes G. also grew 
to womanhood, and died when nineteen 
years old. Beth A. is a student of the home 
schools. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Pow- 
ers began their domestic life on a farm, 
which he purchased but a short time pre- 
vious, and there resided for eight years, 
and then returned to the old home farm. 
Since removing to the old homestead he 
has made many improvements on the two 
farms, including over seventeen miles of 
tiling. In addition to general farming he 
has been engaged in breeding and dealing 
in Shorthorn cattle, and annually feeds and 
ships several car loads of cattle and hogs. 

Politically Mr. Powers is a Republican, 
and cast his first presidential ballot for U. 
S. Grant in 1868. He has ever taken an 
active interest in local politics, and has 
served two years as assessor of his township, 
and for twenty years has been school trustee 
and director, and clerk of his school district 
for the same length of time. He and his 



wife are members of the Congregational 
church at Rolla, and are highly esteemed 
for their real worth. Fraternally he is a 
member of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic. A life-long resident of La Salle and 
De Kalb counties, he has witnessed their 
growth and development, and has worked 
with others for the accomplishment of the 
general good of his county and country. 



ALBERT S. KINSLOE, the present 
efficient county clerk of De Kalb 
county, Illinois, is a veteran of the war for 
the union, with a record of nearly four years 
of faithful service. He was born in Hunting- 
don county, Pennsylvania, in December, 
1840, and is the son of Dr. Lemuel and Isa- 
bella (Thompson) Kinsloe. His father was 
a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1808, 
and was a son of James Kinsloe, who was a 
native of Scotland. Dr. Kinsloe was a 
practicing physician, and came west in the 
spring of 1854, locating at Ross' Grove, De 
Kalb county. He died in 1870. In politics 
he was a Republican, and religiously a mem- 
ber of the Associate Reformed (Presbyterian) 
church. He was a man of medium height, 
mild disposition, firm in character and strict 
in his religious views. His wife was born 
at Spruce Creek, Pennsylvania, and was of 
Irish ancestry. She was a member of the 
same church as her husband. Her death 
occurred in 1872. They were the parents 
of four children — Albert S., our subject; 
Allen G., deceased; Clara T., deceased; 
and Harris E., residing at Corsicanna, 
Texas: 

The subject of this sketch resided in 
Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, until 
about five years of age when his parents 
removed to Juniata county, in the same 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



243 



state. On the removal of his parents to 
De Kalb county, IlHnois, he accompanied 
them and was educated in the public schools, 
finishing his school life in the academy at 
East Paw Paw, Illinois. He was living 
with his parents at Earlville, Illinois, and 
engaged in clerking, at the commencement 
of the Civil war and enlisted April 26, 
1 86 1, as a member of Company D, Twenty- 
third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was 
mustered into the service at Chicago, and 
with his regimenfin June following went to 
Ouincy, Illinois, thence to Jefferson Bar- 
racks, near St. Louis, Missouri, and later to 
Jefferson City, in the same state. The next 
move was to Lexington, Missouri, where 
the regiment was captured by General 
Price. Being sick at the time, Mr. Kinsloe 
was not taken prisoner. The regiment was 
released on parole and was sent to Benton 
Barracks, Missouri, where it was discharged 
by order of General Fremont October 8, 
1861. 

On being discharged Mr. Kinsloe re- 
turned to Earlville and on November 26, 
1 861, re-enlisted in Company D, Fifty-third 
Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which 
was recruited at Earlville, and of which he 
was elected and commissioned second 
lieutenant. The regiment first went into 
camp at Ottawa, Illinois, and from there it 
was sent to Camp Douglas, near Chicago, 
where it remained until early in the spring 
of 1862, when it was sent to Cairo and from 
there to Savannah, Tennessee. From 
Savannah they moved to Pittsburg Landing, 
reaching there the second day of the battle. 
From Pittsburg Landing they marched to 
Corinth and from there to Memphis, where 
the regiment was engaged in maneuvering 
about that section, and doing scout duty for 
some time. On the way to Memphis they 



stopped at Grand Junction, Tennessee, 
Holly Springs, La Grange, Moscow and 
Germantown, arriving at Memphis in July, 
1862. 

On the sixth of September, 1862, the 
regiment left Memphis and marched to Bol- 
ivar. October 5th, 1S62, they were en- 
gaged in fighting Price between Bolivar and 
Corinth, and were with Grant on his march 
down through Mississippi to Oxford, that 
state, and after the surrender at Holly 
Springs they fell back with Grant's army 
and went to Memphis. Later they went 
down the river to Young's Point, opposite 
Vicksburg, then up the Yazoo to Snyder's 
Bluff, from where they marched to a posi- 
tion on the left of the lines in rear of 
Vicksburg, and were there engaged until the 
surrender, July 4, 1863. Our subject next 
took part in following General Johnston, 
and participated in the fight at Jackson, 
July 12, 1863. After this, his command re- 
turned to Vicksburg and from there went to 
Natchez, but again returned to Vicksburg 
when it entered on and took part in the 
Meridian campaign. 

Subsequently returning to Vicksburg, 
the regiment veteranized, and the men were 
granted furloughs to visit their homes. At 
the expiration of the furlough the regiment 
re-united at St. Louis and there took trans- 
ports for Clifton, Tennessee, from there 
they marched across the country by way of 
Huntsville, Georgia, striking the Georgia 
Central Railroad at Kingston. Their next 
march was south to Allatoona, where they 
halted until the army moving on Atlanta 
crossed the Chatahoochie river. Lieutenant 
Kinsloe took part in all the battles in which 
his regiment was engaged until the fall of 
Atlanta. His regiment was on the left 
where the brave McPherson fell, 



244 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



After the fall of Atlanta, Lieutenant 
Kinsloe was detailed on the staff of General 
Potts, as acting assistant adjutant-general. 
First Brigade, Fourth Division, Seventeenth 
Army Corps, in which capacity he served 
until he was mustered out March 31, 1865. 
Enlisting as a private, he was promoted to 
second lieutenant.to take rank from January 
I, 1862; to first lieutenant, to take rank 
from August 6, 1863, and to captain, Janu- 
ary 31, 1865. Returning to his home in 
Earlville, Captain Kinsloe engaged in the 
grocery business for a time, then went to 
Neponset, Bureau county, Illinois, and re- 
mained there until the fall of 1868, when 
he removed to Malta, Illinois, where he 
lived until 1892, when he took up his resi- 
dence in Sycamore. When he went to Malta, 
Captain Kinsloe went into the produce busi- 
ness, and was also agent of the American 
Express Company. In 1873 he was ap- 
pointed postmaster at Malta, which position 
he held for thirteen years. While residing 
there he was a member of the board of 
education for twelve years, a part of which 
time he was president of the board. In 
1886, he was elected county treasurer, and 
served the full term of four years. In 1890, 
he was elected county clerk, and re-elected 
in 1894, and at this writing has received the 
nomination for the third time. 

Mr. Kinsloe was united in marriage De- 
cember 29, 1865, to Miss Caroline W'. Cook, 
daughter of Nelson and Lucretia (Ives) 
Cook, both of whom were natives of Con- 
necticut, where she was also born. Their 
children were George H., Lola, Lucretia, 
Delos, Caroline, Friend M., Artie, Eliza, 
Adelbert and Lyman, all of whom are yet 
living. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinsloe one child 
was born, Nora B., now the wife of C. P. 
Underwood, living at Dapberry, Nebraska. 



They are the parents of the following chil- 
dren: Homer, Carrie, Hazel, Edna, Ruth 
and Nancy. Of the number Carrie is de- 
ceased. 

Religiously Mrs. Kinsloe is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically 
Captain Kinsloe is a Republican, and frater- 
nally is a member of the Masons, Knights of 
Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
and the Grand Army of the Republic. He 
has served several terms as commander of 
his post. He has ever taken an active part 
in political matters, and has served fre- 
quently as delegate to the various conven- 
tions of his party, and in June, 1898, was a 
delegate to the state convention. He has 
ever been and is now one of the most popu- 
lar officials in De Kalb county. At the 
county convention in 1S94, and also in 1898, 
he received the nomination by acclamation. 
He is always at his post of duty, accommo- 
dating to all, and efficient in the discharge 
of his responsible duties. He is a man of 
warm heart, sympathetic and popular with 
all who know him. 



HENRY N. PERKINS, who is living a 
retired life in Genoa, is a well-known 
citizen of the place and of De Kalb county. 
He was born in Columbia county, New 
York, August 12, 1833. His father, Hora- 
tio N. Perkins, was born in Grotton, Con- 
necticut, November 13, 1808, and re- 
moved to Columbia county. New York, 
where he married Eliza Wallace, a native of 
that county and a daughter of William and 
Betsy (Stacey) Wallace, her father being a 
soldier in the war of 181 2. Her mother 
spent the last years of her life in Genoa, 
with her daughter, and died at the age of 
sixty-seven years. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



245 



In 1837, Horatio N. Perkins moved witii 
his family to De Kalb county, Illinois, and 
located in Genoa, where our subject was 
reared. When he came to Genoa he had 
the foresight to secure a large amount of 
land which he believed would some day be 
very valuable. At the time of his death he 
had nearly five hundred acres of as fine land 
as any in the township, leaving an estate to 
the amount of more than fifty thousand 
dollars. He died in 1888, at the age of 
seventy-nine years. In 1843, he built the 
Pacific Hotel in Genoa, which has been in 
existence from that time to the present. He 
continued to operate the hotel until 1854, 
wiien he retired to his farm, where he re- 
mained until about 1872, when he returned 
to Genoa, and there resided during the re- 
mainder o; his life. He was the son of 
James Perkins, a farmer who lived and died 
in New York state, his death occurring at 
the age of ninety-three years. 

Henry N. Perkins was but four years of 
age when he came with his parents to Ge- 
noa. His education was obtained in the 
old log schoolhouse, near the present site 
of the village, with the addition of two 
terms atMt. Morris Academy. He remained 
with his father until the age of twenty-two 
years, when he began farming for himself 
in Genoa township, on a tract of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres deeded him by his 
father. In 1866 he sold the farm and went 
into the mercantile business at Genoa, 
keeping a general store. In that line he 
continued until 1882, when he sold, and for 
two years lived a retired life. In 1884 he 
opened a hardware store, in partnership 
with his son, but in 1888 retired, leaving 
his son sole proprietor. 

Mr. Perkins was married February 28, 
J 85 5, to Margaret Stiles, born in Feeleys- 



burg, Canada, and who died in Genoa, 
March 26, 1880. They became the parents 
of five children, one of whom died in early 
childhood. Horatio A. is now engaged in 
the hardware business at Genoa and is an 
enterprising business man, at present serv- 
ing as township clerk. He married Sarah 
Holroyd, a daughter of Stephen Holroyd, 
and they have now two children, a son and 
a daughter. Marian married Charles Stott, 
of Des Plaines, Illinois, and they have one 
daughter. Mary married Frank E. White, 
who is operating our subject's farm in Mar- 
tin count}', Minnesota. They have five 
children. Jennie married Newton Stanley, 
who is engaged in farming in Riley town- 
ship, McHenry county, Illinois. They have 
three children. Since retiring from the 
mercantile business, Mr. Perkins has given 
personal supervision to his farm of two hun- 
dred and forty acres, lying partly in the vil- 
lage of Genoa. He has twenty acres of 
timber land on the Kishwaukee river, near 
Genoa. In addition he has a farm of three 
hundred and twenty acres in Martin county, 
Minnesota, on which his daughter lives. 
The farm is well improved, having a com- 
fortable house, good barns and outbuildings, 
and is well drained. Since coming into 
possession of his present farm in Genoa, 
Mr. Perkins has rebuilt the house, making 
additions to it, improved and repaired the 
barns, and has laid three miles of tiling. 
He has also sunk a deep well and erected a 
good windmill, and in all has a very valu- 
able place. In politics he is a Republican, 
and for many years was a member of the 
village board, serving five terms as presi- 
dent of the board. For ten years he was a 
member of the county board of supervisors, 
and has served as town clerk, and held 
other minor offices. During the Civil war 



246 



THE BIOGR.^PHICAL RECORD. 



he was a member of the Union League. As 
a citizen he is thorough!)' representative of 
the business interests of his adopted town 
and county. 



JOHN McGIRR, a leading and influential 
farmer of Afton township, De Kalb 
county, Illinois, is a native of the township, 
born August 7, 1S57, and is the son of 
John and Mary (Powers) McGirr, both na- 
tives of Ireland, the father from county 
Dublin, and the mother from county Water- 
ford, who were the parents of twelve chil- 
dren, six of whom are deceased. The 
living are Dennis, Jolm, Rose, Patrick, 
Theresa and Ella. In 1850 John McGirr, 
Sr. , came to America, and first settled in 
St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois, where 
he remained until 1853, when he came to 
De Kalb county, and purchased a farm of 
one hundred and si.xty acres of government 
land, which he improved and to which he 
added from time to time imtil he had six 
hundred and fifteen acres of valuable farm- 
ing lands. He was an industrious and en- 
terprising man, and was quite successful in 
all his business undertakings. 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
in his native township, and educated in its 
public schools. His entire life has been 
spent in farming, with the exception of 
about three years in the stock and grain 
business at Cortland and DeKalb. In 1881 
he made his first purchase of land, buying 
two hundred acres where he now resides. 
To this he has since added eighty acres, 
and also has one hundred and sixty acres 
in Milan township, making his farming 
lands comprise four hundred and forty 
acres, all of which is improved and under 
9. high state of cultivation. 



On the 14th of \ovember. 1882, Mr. 
McGirr married Hannah Redman, a native 
of Pennsylvania, born in 1859, and the 
daughter of Murt Redman, who came to De 
Kalb county in 1871, and b}' this union 
there were four children born — three are 
living: Murt D., Lewis and Elizabeth, all of 
whom yet remain under the parental roof. 
One child, J. F. , is deceased. Religiously 
Mr. McGirr and his family are connected with 
the Roman Catholic church. Politically he 
is a Democrat, having voted that party 
ticket since attaining his majority. He was 
elected road commissioner in 1891 , re-elected 
in 1894 and in 1897. That he makes an 
efficient officer is shown by his continued 
re-election. He has also served as a mem- 
ber of the board of school trustees with 
satisfaction to his fellow-citizens. Frater- 
nally he is a member of the Modern Wood- 
men of America. In a social way he is 
greatly esteemed and has many friends 
throughout De Kalb county. 



THOMAS RENWICK, who owns and 
operates a fine farm on section 2, 
South Grove township, is a native of Dum- 
fries county, Scotland, born April 29, 1834, 
and is the son of Walter and Mary (Weil) 
Renwick, the former a native of Scotland 
and the latter of England. They were the 
parents of sixteen children, of whom our 
subject was fourteenth in order of birth. The 
family came from Scotland to America in 
1835, ^nd located first in Canada, where the 
father engaged in farrning until 1845, when 
he came to Illinois, located first in Kane 
county and later coming to Cortland town- 
ship, De Kalb count}', and from there to 
Pierce township. 

The subject of this sketch was in his 




JOHN McGIRR. 




MRS. JOHN McGIRR. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



251 



infancy when he accompanied his parents 
to Canada, and was but eleven j-ears of age 
when he came with them to Illinois. His 
education was obtained principally in the 
common schools of this state. He started 
in life for himself at the age of eighteen 
years, working on a farm by the month at 
ten dollars. On the 9th day of March, 
1864, he married Lucy A. Ramsey, a native 
of South Grove township, De Kalb county, 
and a daughter of George Ramsey, who 
was born in Pennsylvania, and a farmer by 
occupation who came to Illinois in 1838, 
first locating in Monroe township. Ogle 
county, Illinois, where she was born. By 
this union three children have been born: 
Bessie, Lucy O., and Thomas [. 

Starting in life without a cent and re- 
ceiving no aid from any source, Mr. Ren- 
wick has made a success and has now seven 
hundred and twenty acres of as fine land 
as there is in De Kalb county, all being 
well improved, with good buildings and 
properly drained. In politics he is an 
ardent Republican and has held the ofSce 
of road commissioner. As a man he enjoys 
the utmost confidence and respect of all 
who know him. 



PETER MILLER is one of the substan- 
tial farmers of De Kalb county, and re- 
sides upon section 24, Shabbona township, 
but is now living retired. For fifty-three 
j'ears he has been a resident of the county, 
arriving here June 7, 1845. He is a native 
of Columbia county. New York, born Feb- 
ruary 21, 1 8 16, and is the son of Simeon 
Miller, who was a farmer of Columbia 
county, and who served as a soldier during 
the war of 18 12. He married Betsy Bedell, 
with whom he later moved to Cayuga coun- 



ty, New York, where his death occurred in 
1S24. His wife survived him a number of 
years, and reared their family of six sons 
and si.x daughters, of whom our subject and 
his brother Robert are the only survivors. 
Robert Miller is a' retired farmer and now 
living near Milledgeville, Iowa. The Miller 
family are of German ancestry, the first of 
the family settling in New York in the pio- 
neer days of that state. 

The subject of this sketch grew to mature 
years in Cayuga county, New York, his boy- 
hood and youth being spent on a farm, his 
education being received in the common 
schools, which he attended but a few weeks 
during the winter months. He was mar- 
ried in the town of Victory, Cayuga county. 
New York. February 25, 1841, to Elizabeth 
Ouilhot, a native of Cayuga county, and 
a daughter of Henry and Hannah (Van 
Allen) Ouilhot, and a sister of Peter V. 
Ouilhot, whose sketch appears in this work. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miller 
commenced their domestic life in the village 
of Victory, where he engaged in the hotel 
business for about three years. He then 
came west to Illinois, and took up a claim 
of one hundred and sixty acres in Shabbona 
township, De Kalb county, after which he 
returned to his home in New York. In 
1845 he came with his family to the county, 
by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo, thence 
across the lakes to Chicago, and by teams to 
Shabbona. On the place was a small log 
house, in which they lived for a few years 
while opening up the farm. The country 
was then all new, and for the first two years 
they experienced all the hardships and pri- 
vations of pioneer life. In 1856, the old 
log house gave place to a neat and substan- 
tial residence and as the years went by, 
barns and other outbuildings were erected, 



252 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and the place was transformed into the sub- 
stantial farm which is seen to-day. 

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had five chil- 
dren, of whom two are now living. Two of 
their children died in infancy, and one, 
Peter V., at the age of about ten years. 
The living are Mary Elizabeth and Minard 
S. The former is now the wife of Dr. 
Stewart, of Chicago. Minard S. grew to 
manhood in his native township, and at 
Kansas City, Missouri, June 30, 188 r, mar- 
ried Clara E. Adams, a native of Illinois, 
born at Normal, and a daughter of R. P. 
Adams, of Illinois, who was a soldier in the 
Civil war, serving through the entire service. 
After his discharge he joined his wife in 
Warren county, Indiana, where they resided 
some years, then removed to Kansas, final!}' 
locating at Dodge City, in that state. Mrs. 
Miller was educated in Indiana, and later 
was for two years a teacher in Dodge City, 
Kansas. Minard S. Miller and wife com- 
menced their domestic life on the farm 
where they now reside. However, he was 
for two years engaged in the livery business 
in Rochelle, Illinois. They have two chil- 
dren, Flossie May and Francis Peter. 

In early manhood our subject was iden- 
tified with the Democratic party, but for 
reason of his liberty loving principles, he 
became identified with the Republican party. 
Office holding has never been to his taste, 
and he has invariably declined when any 
office was tendered him. With the growth 
and prosperity of De Kalb county, he has 
been identified for more than half a century. 
He is well known, especially throughout the 
southern section of the county, and has 
many friends who have the utmost confi- 
dence in him as a man and citizen, and who 
will be pleased to read this sketch in the 
biographical record of the county. 



CHARLES H. CROSBY, deceased, was 
for years a representative of the busi- 
ness and commercial interests of Sycamore. 
He was born in Belvidere, Illinois, February 
27, 1844, and was the son of Frederick and 
Parmelia (Sweet) Crosby, the former a na- 
tive of New York state and a miller by 
trade, who came west at an early daj' and 
located at Belvidere, Illinois. His death 
occurred November 20, 1846, having been 
born at Dudley, Massachusetts, May 30, 
1815, son of Nathaniel Crosby. He was 
the grandson of Rev. Pearson Crosby and 
great-grandson of Stephen Crosby. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in his native city, and received his edu- 
cation in its public schools. In his j'outh 
he began clerking in a store in Belvidere, 
where he received a good bnsiness training. 
In 1872 he came to Sycamore, where he en- 
gaged in business for himself in the line of 
men's furnishing goods, in which he contin- 
ued until his death, April 3, 1893. Previous 
to his leaving Belvidere in October, 1S70, 
he was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
E. \N'ing, a native of Cortland, New York, 
and second in a family of seven children 
bqrn to Joseph and Sarah (Johnson) Wing, 
the latter being a daughter of Samuel John- 
son and a native of New York. Joseph 
Wing was likewise a native of New York; 
his father was David Wing, who married 
Desire Vincent. They became the parents 
of seven children. They are descended 
from John \\'ing, who first came to Boston 
in 1632, from England, and later settled at 
Lynn in the early colonial period. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Crosby two children were born: 
Grace A. and Harold. The latter died De- 
cember 8, 1893. The former is yet living, 
and resides with her mother in Sycamore. 
Mrs. Crosb\' and her dauijhter are members 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



253 



of the Congregation;)! church, in which they 
are actively interested. 

Fraternally Mr. Crosby was a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and politically was a Republican. For sev- 
eral years he served as city clerk of Syca- 
more. A man of good business ability, en- 
terprising in all things, the community lost 
an e.xcellent business man, and the wife and 
daughter a loving husband and father. 



CHARLES E. DOANE, after a third of 
a century of hard labor upon the farm, 
is row living a retired life in the village of 
Malta. He was born in De Kalb, St. Law- 
rence county. New York, July 13, 1838, and 
is the son of Chauncey and Asenath (White) 
Doane, the former a native of Connecticut, 
and the latter of Massachusetts. By occupa- 
tion Chauncey Uoane was a farmer, and 
confined himself to agricultural pursuits dur- 
ing his entire life. About 1820, he re- 
moved from Connecticut to New York, 
where he purchased about six hundred acres 
of land, all of which was in timber and which 
he cleared up during his life. The wood 
he burned, and the ashes he sold for chemi- 
cal purposes. In this way he paid for his 
land and its clearing. He was a man of 
much push and energy, honest and upright 
to a fault, but a man that always wanted 
what belonged to him. He was born in 
'799. ^nd had just reached his majority 
when he removed from his native state to 
New York. His death occurred in the 
latter state in 1864, while his wife survived 
him some eleven years, dying in 1875, at 
the age of seventy-five years. Their family 
consisted of twelve children, seven of whom 
are living, three now residing in the village 
of Malta, De Kalb county, Illinois, 



Charles E. Doane is the seventh in 
order of birth in the family of his parents. 
He was reared and educated at De Kalb, 
St. Lawrence county, New York, and 
remained at home until twenty-one years of 
age, when he came to De Kalb county, 
Illinois, and located in South Grove town- 
ship, where he purchased one hundred and 
si.xty acres of wild prairie land, upon which 
he erected buildings and made other im- 
provements, which materially advanced its 
value. This farm he operated as a general 
farmer up to 1897, when he purchased 
several lots in Malta, upon one of which he 
resides in a comfortable home. 

On the 6th of January, 1861, Mr. Doane 
was united in marriage with Miss Harriet 
Monroe, a native of New York, born in 1 842, 
and a daughter of Thomas and Catherine 
Monroe, the former a native of Canada 
and the latter of New York. By this union 
there are six children, of whom Cora May, 
Byron C. , Kittie and Emma are deceased. 
The living are Malcolm M. and Carrie. The 
former married Miss Eliza Hallet, and oper- 
ates the old homestead. Carrie married 
Jacob Willrett, and they reside in Malta 
township. The father of Mrs. Doane died 
in early life, while his wife still survives him 
and is now living at the age of seventy- 
seven years. 

Politically Mr. Doane is a Democrat, 
and a firm beliver in the principles of the 
party. He has been honored with many of 
the township offices, the duties of which he 
has faithfully discharged. 



GEORGE OLMSTEAD is a retired 
farmer and carpenter residing on sec- 
tion 21, Genoa township. He was born at 
Davenport, Delaware county, New York, 



254 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



December 7, 1S33, and is the son of John 
Olmstead, who lived and died in that 
county, at the age of fift3'-eight years. He 
was also a farmer and followed shoemaking 
to a limited extent. He was a son of Anson 
and Charity (Merrill) Olmstead, who were 
natives of England. John Olmstead mar- 
ried Sarah A. Cook, who died at the age of 
eighty-two years. They became the par- 
ents of eleven children, of whom our sub- 
ject was third in order of birth. Sarah A. 
Cook was a daughter of John and Sarah 
(Utter) Cook, who attained the ages of 
eighty-five and ninety-five, respectively. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
his native county, where he remained until 
April, 1855. He attended a few terms of 
school during the winter months, in country 
districts, until the age of thirteen years, 
since which time he has daily done a man's 
labor, and notwithstanding his many years 
of arduous toil he is still hale and hearty. 
At the age of thirteen he began working out 
on farms, doing a man's work in hay or 
grain fields, but receiving only a boy's pay 
— three dollars and a half a month. He 
continued in farm work by the month until 
he came west in 1S55. From his New 
York home he came direct to Genoa, Illinois, 
and worked at carpenter wcrk until 1857. 
He then rented a farm, and continued rent- 
ing some eight or nine years, and then pur- 
chased a farm of forty acres in Genoa town- 
ship. He later sold this and moved to Liv- 
ingston county, Illinois, where he resided 
si.x years, having purchased a farm of 
eighty acres of raw prairie land, which he 
very much improved. Mr. Olmstead was 
married in Genoa township, to Miss Mary B. 
Bartholomew, a native of Northumberland 
county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of 
John and Jerusha (Evart) Bartholomew. By 



this union five children were born, three of 
whom are living. Henry died at the age of 
one month. Eugene Herbert married Etta 
Wooster, by whom he has two children. 
John married Clara Love, and they have two 
children. Lucy and Catherine were twins, the 
latter now being deceased. Lucy married 
Leonard Durham, and they have one child. 
On the 1 2th of September, 1S72, Mr. 
Olmstead sold his Livingston county farm, 
and October 17, of the same year, pur- 
chased a part of his present farm, to which 
he removed and where he has since contin- 
ued to reside. He added to his original 
purchase, until he has now a farm of one 
hiuidred and sixty-five acres, as fine a body 
of land as one would wish to see. Since 
1886 he has retired from farming, leasing 
the farm to his son, and giving his entire 
attention to his trade, that of carpentering. 
In politics he is a Republican. For forty- 
seven years he has been an active and con- 
sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, having a love for the Master's cause. 



TOHN LAWRENCE is a retired farmer 
vJ residing in the city of Sycamore, Illi- 
nois. He is a native of England, born in 
the village of Thurnhaiii, near Lancaster, 
July 10, 1830. Until twelve years of age 
he attended school, provided l^y the benev- 
olence of a daughter of Squire Dalton, a 
gentleman of large landed estates, who, but 
for his Catholic faith, would have held the 
title of nobility. The school was above the 
usual grade in those days, was free to all re- 
siding in that vicinity, and was supported 
entirely by means furnished by this benev- 
olent young lady after her father's death. 
Robert Lawrence, the father of our sub- 
ject, was also a native of Thurnham, Eng- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



255 



land, and was a common laborer, who for 
many years was employed on canal boats 
running from Galasemdock to Kendall, a 
business at which our subject also worked 
from the time he was old enough to work, 
until coming to America in 1850. Robert 
Lawrence spent his entire life in his native 
shire and died about 1865 at the age of 
seventy-five years. He was a lifelong mem- 
ber of the established Church of England 
and married Jane Thronton. a native of the 
same village, who died when about fifty 
3'ears old. To them were born nine chil- 
dren, three of whom came to America. Ed- 
ward is now living in Elgin. William re- 
tired to Elgin to spend the remainder of his 
life in ease, but died in Burlington, Illinois, 
while visiting his old farm. John is the 
subject of this sketch. 

The three sons, leaving the mother coun- 
try, sailed from Liverpool, March 17, 1850, 
on the vessel Centurian, and were thirty- 
three days on the voyage, encountered one 
severe storm and landed in New York. The 
three brothers came directly west, and, lo- 
cating at St. Charles, Illinois, engaged in 
whatever work they could find to do for two 
years. Our subject worked for the railroad 
company around the depot, was for a time 
helper to masons, building in the town, and 
with his brothers leased a quarry, where 
they worked when not otherwise employed, 
thus losing no time and having stone ready 
for delivery when purchasers came. During 
this time Mr. Lawrence often worked for 
eighty-seven and a half cents a day, board- 
ing himself. He later took a trip south, 
seeking work and prospecting for some good 
place in which to locate. Finding none, 
however, he returned to St. Charles and on 
the 31st of August, 1853, was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Ann Marshall, born in Clif- 



ton, Nottinghamshire, England, October 
II, 1S28, and who came to America with 
two of her brothers, John and Thomas, in 
1 85 I, the three taking up their residence in 
St. Charles. In 1848 her brothers, Will- 
iam and George, came to America, and in 
1852 her parents and youngest sister fol- 
lowed. Mrs. Lawrence is the daughter of 
William and' Mary (Bingham) Marshall, the 
latter born in Saxelby, Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, and who died at the age of ninety 
years. She was a daughter of George and 
Jane (Job) Bingham. The former served 
for some years in the British army and died 
at the age of seventy-five years. The lat- 
ter died when about forty years old. Will- 
iam Marshall was born in Dunham, Notting- 
hamshire. England, in 1789, and died in 
1876. He was the son of George Marshall, 
a teacher and highly educated man, who 
died in England, when about seventy-five 
years old. The name of his wife is not 
definitely known, but probably was Miss 
Newbold. Of their eleven children, eight 
came to America. 

To our subject and wife eight children 
have been born. Jennie married Alexan- 
der Evans. Clara is deceased. William is 
also deceased. Thomas resides in Chicago, 
where he is engaged in the commission busi- 
ness. John M., who married Mary Mosher, 
lives in Chicago and they have three chil- 
dren, Rupert, George and Ruth. Emma 
married Charles Wall, a grocer residing in 
Chicago. They have two children, Ray- 
mond and Willard. George married Mer- 
tie Rowe and they reside in Galesville, \\'is- 
consin. They have one daughter. Hazel. 
Clara May died in infancy. 

Inmiediately after his marriage Mr. 
Lawrence purchased a farm at Charter 
Grove, Sycamore township, De Kalb coun- 



>S6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ty, on which he resided for seven years. 
He then sold out and purchased three hun- 
dred and twenty acres on sections 1 6 and 1 7, 
Burlington township, Kane county, Illinois, 
which was his home until May, 1886, when 
he retired from active life, moved to Syca- 
more, and with his good wife is getting the 
best out of the world in the evening of life. 
Both are hale and hearty, giving promise of 
many more years of useful life. In politics 
he is a Republican, and while residing in 
Kane county served as road master, school 
director and trustee. Religiously he and 
his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. As a farmer he was pro- 
gressive, thrifty and energetic, and alwa3's 
had his farm under a high state of cultiva- 
tion. 



BROWN & BROWN, bankers of Genoa, 
Illinois, are well known throughout De 
Kalb and adjoining counties, being among 
the live business men of the place. They 
are sons of Jeremiah Libby Brown, who for 
many years was one of the most prominent 
citi;;ens of Genoa township, a native of 
Scarborough, Maine, born April 17, 1805. 
He was the son of Benjamin Brown, who 
was probably a native of Scotland. Jere- 
miah L. Brown married Ruth Libby, and in 
1837 came to De Kalb county, Illinois, 
where later his death occurred. 

Jeremiah L. Brown, the father of our 
subject, attended the common schools of his 
native state during the winter terms until 
the age of eighteen years. He then ran 
away to sea on a whaling vessel, and was 
gone three years, during which time he 
never heard a word from home. Soon after 
his return, he removed with his parents to 
the town of Hope, Hamilton county. New 



York, and on the 17th of August, 1830, 
married Judith Richardson, of Johnstown, 
New York, who died March 4, 1S48. By 
that union seven children were born — Julia 
A., James P., Judith, Esther E., Abigail J., 
Ruth S. and Jeremiah W. Of these Julia 
A. and Ruth S. are deceased. The second 
union of Jeremiah L. Brown was solemnized 
May 2, 1850, when he married Eliza A. 
Jackman, born May 26, 1825, a daughter 
of Abner and Mary Jackman, of Sycamore 
township. By this last union were born 
Emma R., Dillon S., Charles A. and Liz- 
zie M. 

By way of the canal and lakes, Jeremiah 
L. Brown came west in 1836, and settled 
first in Peoria, Peoria county, Illinois, but 
returned east and in 1837 again came west, 
driving through by team from New York, 
coming direct to Genoa township, De Kalb 
county, reaching Genoa at sunset, Septem- 
ber 20, 1837. By trade he was a shoemaker, 
which occupation he followed in the east, 
but on coming to De Kalb county took up 
land on section 30, Genoa township, and 
there followed agricultural pursuits. He 
became a successful farmer and soon ac- 
quired over a section of land. Three j'ears 
before his arrival white men had hardly set 
foot in De Kalb county. The country was 
in its native wildness and Indians roamed at 
will over its prairies and through the timber, 
engaged in their regular hunting expeditions. 
In local affairs Mr. Brown became quite 
prominent and was kept in office by his 
neighbors the greater part of the time. He 
was a man of superior education, and be- 
cause of that fact his services were in de- 
mand. For many terms he served as one 
of the county board of supervisors. In 
early life he was an Abolitionist, and when 
the Republican party was formed attached 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



!S7 



himself to it and became an earnest advo- 
cate of its principles until his death, Janu- 
ary 5, 1S82. Well known and highly re- 
spected, his death left a void in the county. 

Dillon S. Brown, senior member of the 
banking house of Brown & Brown, Genoa, 
was born May 12, 1852, on the old home 
farm in Genoa township, where he grew to 
manhood. His primary education was ob- 
tained in the schools of Genoa and Syca- 
more, after which he entered the Illinois 
State University, at Champaign, from which 
he graduated in 1875, in a class of thirty- 
seven persons. He then attended McGill 
Veterinary College, at Montreal, Canada, 
from which he was graduated in 1877. 
After following his profession in Sycamore 
some two or three years, he formed a part- 
nership with H. H. Slater, in the general 
mercantile business at Genoa. After the 
e.xpiration of one year he withdrew from 
that firm, and forming a partnership with 
his brother, Charles A., began the bank- 
ing business in Genoa, in which line he has 
since continued with gratifying success. 

Dillon S. Brown was married May 16, 
1878, to Miss Emily E. Pond, a native of 
Pennsylvania, and daughter of Americus H. 
Pond, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere 
in this work. By this union five children 
have been born, two of whom died in in- 
fancy, and Claude in early childhood. The 
living are Earl and liaird, pupils of the 
■ Genoa schools. 

Fraternally Mr. Brown is a member of 
the Masonic order, and in politics he is a 
thorough Republican, believing in protection 
and reciprocity. For some years he was a 
member of the village board of trustees and 
for a time was president of the same. He 
was also a member of the board of education 
of Genoa, giving of his time to advance the 



educational interests of the place. At 
present he is a member of the county board 
of supervisors, an office which he has filled 
in a most satisfactory manner. 

Charles A. Brown, junior member of the 
firm of Brown & Brown, was born on the 
home farm in Genoa township, January 12, 
1858. His education was obtained in the 
common schools and in the high schools at 
Genoa, from which he was graduated in 
1 88 1 after pursuing a four-years course. He 
then went to Chicago, where he studied one 
term in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial 
College, and then returned home and en- 
gaged in farming a few months until the 
banking firm of Brown & Brown was 
formed, since which time he has given 
almost his undivided attention to his bank- 
ing interests. 

Charles A. Brown was married in June, 
1889, to Miss Ada M. Olmstead, a native 
of Genoa township, and a daughter of A. 
H. and Rebecca J. (Eichler) Olmstead. By 
this union three children have been born: 
Loyal, Gladys and Lorine. Fraternally 
Mr. Brown is a member of Genoa Lodge, 
A. F. & A. M., in which he has served as 
secretary and worshipful master, and which 
he has represented in the grand lodge of the 
state. In politics he is a Republican. The 
only offices which he has held have been that 
of township treasurer and village trustee. 

While there is much truth in the stricture 
made upon the modern scrambler for the al- 
mighty dollar who seeks to accumulate vast 
fortunes by selfish and unscrupulous means, 
there is nothing more worthy of praise than 
the quiet and steady pursuit of some honest 
calling, which enables men to acquire a 
home and competence. The firm of Brown 
& Brown is one to whose energy and fore- 
sight the village of Genoa and northern De 



!58 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Kalb county is indebted for many improve- 
ments. Wiiile they are prosperous busi- 
ness men, and have given close attention to 
their private affairs, they have never for- 
gotten or ignored that bond of common 
interest which should unite the people of 
every community, and they have ever been 
ready to promote progress in every line. 



^XriLLIAM HUBBARD, after more than 
V V half a century of honest toil on a 
farm in De Kalb township, is now living a 
retired life in the city of De Kalb, Illinois. 
He is a native of Cortland, Cortland coun- 
ty, New York, born April 21, 1823, and is 
the son of Joel and Clarinda Hubbard, na- 
tives of Massachusetts and Connecticut re- 
spectively. Joel Hubbard was a shoemaker 
by trade, and a man of some note in his na- 
tive county. He was born September 5, 
1788, and died in Michigan, March 25, 
1838. His wife was born November 14, 
1785, and died in New York, March 28, 
1827. Their family consisted of eight chil- 
dren: Palmira, born October 3, 1S09; 
Forona, March 23, 181 i ; Lanson, June 22, 
181 3; Henry, May 18, 181 5; Alfred, March 
22, I 817; Fanny, May 4, 1820; William, as 
above stated; and Ansel, November 7, 
1825. Of these Fanny died February 15, 
1822. 

William Hubbard is seventh in order of 
birth, and was only four years of age when 
his mother died, and but fifteen years old 
when he came to De Kalb county in 1838, 
locating in De Kalb township. W'ith an 
elder brother he walked from Michigan to 
De I\alb, Illinois, but remained one sum- 
mer at Sugar Grove, Illinois. His edu- 
cation, begun in the common schools of the 
east, was completed in the district schools 



of De Kalb county, which he attended for 
two years after his arrival. Soon after 
leaving school he made a purchase of nine- 
ty acres of land from the government 
which he reclaimed and beautified, making 
of it one of the most productive farnjs in 
De Kalb township. This land he retained 
for about fifty-tive years, the best, hap- 
piest and most profitable days of his life. 

On the 26th of May, 1850, he married 
Miss Nancy Churchill, daughter of David 
and Anna Churchill, by whom he has had 
three children, two yet li\ing: Joel W., born 
March 9, 1851; and Elma A., October 28, 
1852. Edgar, born June 14, 1854, died 
June 9, 1880. Mrs. Hubbard was born in 
Geneseo county. New York, January 25, 
1824. Her parents, David and Anna 
Churchill, were natives of Vermont, the 
former dying at the age of seventy-four 
years and the latter when forty-four years 
old. 

In 1S97, Mr. Hubbard sold his farm and 
removed to the city of De Kalb, that he 
might spend his remaining days in ease and 
comfort. He is worthy of the rest, and no 
man stands higher in the estimation of his 
fellow citizens. 



FORREST REEVES HAMMOND is a 
well-known farmer residing in Sycamore, 
Illinois. The Hammond family is one of the 
oldest of colonial families and took part in 
the stirring times during the early settlement 
remote from the coast. Our subject is de- 
scended from one of three brothers from 
England, who settled on what was known 
as Canaan Mountain, Pennsylvania. Some 
of the family settled in Tioga county and 
others in Chemung county, New York. Dur- 
ing the Indian wars prior to the Revolution 



THJ-: BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



!59 



the Hammonds were great sufferers. Sev- 
eral of them were taken prisoners at the 
time of the Wyoming massacre. One of 
them, Laban Hammond, a great uncle of 
our subject, with fourteen others, was placed 
in a circle to be executed by an Indian queen. 
After the first one was tomahawked the un- 
cle sprang up, l)eat his way through the 
crowd and escaped, while the others were 
all killed. In March of the following year 
with two others he was again captured. 
While an old Indian whc) was guarding the 
prisoners was replenishing the fire Laban 
killed fi\e of his captors and then struck 
another across the neck while on his knees, 
leaving him, as he supposed, dead. He 
made good his escape the second time. 
Years afterwards, seeing an Indian with a 
stiff neck and head bent down, he asked him 
how it happened and the laconic reply re- 
ceived was: "Yankee, Wyoming." He 
thought best not to inform tiie Indian that 
he was the Yankee. 

Our subjecfs great-grandparents, Oliver 
and Mary Hammond, were born near the 
middle of the eighteenth century, tiie former 
December 25, 1759, and the latter May 4, 
1 761. The first named died at the age of 
forty-five, while the latter attained the good 
old age of seventy-nine years. They were 
pioneers in the wilds of Pennsylvania, suf- 
ferred terrors from Indian depredations on 
the frontier and passed through the stirring 
scenes of the Revolution. 

Lebbeus Hammond, the grandfather of 
our subject, was born December 6, 1786, 
married Cynthia P. Matthewson, who was 
born July 25, 1786. An interesting anecdote 
is related of her courage, as part of the 
family traditions. ^^'hen she was only 
eleven years of age a man near her father's 
house cut his leg with an adze and was 

13 



bleeding to death. There was a surgeon 
across the river, the bridge was washed away 
and the river was higher than it was ever 
known. No man would volunteer to go for 
the doctor. Her father said that he knew 
Cynthia would do it and asked her if she 
would undertake to cross the river. .She 
replied that she would if he would let her 
ride " Pomp," her favorite horse. Permis- 
sion was granted and her father cautioned 
her in returning to ride up stream to a cer- 
tain point, where she would find a safe land- 
ing on the west bank. On reaching the 
doctor's and stating her errand he refused 
to cross the river with her, remarking, "Let 
the man die; I will not cross in such a 
flood." She ridiculed him, asking hini if he 
could not do what she had done. He finally 
consented to go and started into the stream 
near by. She told him her father's direc- 
tions, rnde in front, the doctor follow- 
ing, and both safelj- landed. The doctor 
arrived in time to save the man's life. 
When asked if she was not afraid, she re- 
plied that she was not, as she knew that 
Pomp could stay on top of the water and 
she could stay on top of him. 

Our subject's father, also named Lebbeus 
Hammond, was born June 8, 1830, at 
Palmyra, Wayne county, Ne\^• York, and 
came west in the spring of 1854, and died 
April 25, 1855. He married Mary Reeves, 
who died about 1867 at the age of thirty- 
four years, leaving two children, Cynthia 
Philuria and Forrest Reeves. 

The subject of this sketch was born in 
Sycamore townshp a few weeks after the 
arrival of the family. His mother died 
when he was but twelve years of age, and 
having remarried after the death of her first 
husband, he lived with his stepfather and re- 
ceived his education in the district school. 



26o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



supplemented by one jear in the schools of 
Syianiore. At the af;e of twenty-one he 
came into possession of his father's farm of 
onehundred and twenty-two and a half acres, 
on sections 16. 21 and 22, to which lie later 
added twenty-eight and a half acres, making 
him a fine tract of one hundred and fifty-one 
acres. For some years he has been en- 
gaged in dairy farming, usually keeping 
about forty head of milch cows. In Decem- 
ber, 1890, he removed to Sycamore but 
still gives his personal attenticjn to the farm. 

On the 17th of May, 1879, Mr. Ham- 
mond was united in marriage at Sycamore, 
with Miss S. Frances Hamilton, who was 
born in De Kalb township between the 
cities of Sycamore and De Kalb, and is a 
daughter of Oscar and Catilina (Johnson) 
Hamilton. By this union three children 
have been born: Elmer D., F-,loyd I. and 
Harry H. 

In politics Mr. Hammond is a Republic- 
an, and while residing in the country served 
as school director. Fraternally he is a 
member of Sycamore Lodge, Order of For- 
esters. 



CHARLES H. MORDOFF, M. I)., of 
Genoa, Illinois, is a well known and 
successful physician and surgeon who has 
been in active practice in that village for 
about seventeen years. He traces his an- 
Destry back to James Mordoff, Sr., a native 
of Scotland, who came to America prior to 
the Revolutionary war, and settled in King- 
ston, Canada, where he died June 17, 1789. 
His wife lived to be one hundred and seven- 
teen years old. Their son, also named 
James, born in Kingston, Canada, May 12, 
1762, died at the age of fifty-nine years, 
eight months and twenty days. About 



1790 he moved from Canada to New York, 
where his last days were spent. He was a 
man of good education, and it was said of 
him that he was "neither priest nor law- 
yer, but a learned man." He married 
Lois Charters, who was born December 17, 
1790, and who died at the age of ninety- 
seven years, in western New York. Their 
son, James Mordoff, Jr., one of twelve chil- 
dren, was born in New York, .-Vpril 24. 
1795. He married Polly Dunn, and came 
west in May, 1845, locating in Boone 
county, Illinois. 

George J. Mordoff, the son of James 
Mordoff, Jr., was fifth in a family of si.x 
children. He was born in Portage, Wyom- 
ing county. New York, March 26. 1831, and 
came west with his parents in 1845, com- 
ing overland by wagons. It was a long, 
weary trip, and all were well pleased on 
their arrival in Boone county. With his 
parents he continued to reside until after he 
attained his majority. He was married in 
Belvidere, Illinois, May 2, 1854, to Miss 
Sarah Whitman, a native of Chautauqua 
county. New '^'ork, born in September, 
1832. Her father, Charles Whitman, was 
born in Bennington, Vermont, January 4, 
1800. At the age of twenty-five he went 
to New York, where, in 1824, at Fort Miller, 
he married Mary Ann Jakeway, a daughter 
of Charles Jakeway. In 1836. they came 
w^est and located in Boone county, Illinois. 
George J. Mordoff continued to reside in 
Boone county until 1884, when he removed 
to Genoa, to make his home with our sub- 
ject. He was a well-known veterinary sur- 
geon, and for many years practiced his pro- 
fession in Boone and De Kalb counties. 

Charles H. Mordoff is the only child 
born to George J. and Sarah (Whitman) 
Mordoff. He was born near Belvidere, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



261 



Boone county, Illinois, July 22, 1856. 
After attending the district school he entered 
the high school at Bel\-idere, from which he 
was graduated in the spring of i<S73. He 
early showed a decided taste for the medical 
profession and at the age of twelve years, in 
an irregular way, he began reading medi- 
cine. After his graduation from the high 
school for two years he read medicine 
with Dr. F. S. \\'hitman, of Belvidere, and 
later entered the Chicago Homeopathic 
Medical College, from which he was gradu- 
ated in i<S8i. On the 31st of January, 
1882, he located in Cenoa, where he has 
since remained, liaving built np a large 
practice which extends for many miles 
around. In politics he is a Republican and 
fraternally a member of Genoa I^odge, No. 
768, I. O. O. F. ; Ellwood Encampment, 
No. 173, of Sycamore; Canton Truman, No. 
2, of Sycamore; and Sarah Rebecca, No. 
134, of Sycamore; Maple I^eaf Lodge, No. 
283, K. of P., of Genoa; Genoa Camp 
No. 163, M. W. A.; Royal Neighbors, of 
Genoa; and of the Oriental Order of the 
Magi, of Chicago. Formerly he was a mem- 
ber of the I^nights of the Globe. Profes- 
sionally he is a member of the Illinois Home- 
pathic Medical Society and the American 
Institute of Homeopath)'. As a citizen he 
stands high in the estimation of the people. 



JOHN MILLER, who is now living a re- 
tired life in the village of Fairdale, is a 
native of Oneida county. New York, born 
February 9, 1818, and is the son of John 
and Mary (Crill) Miller, both natives of Her- 
kimer county. New York. They were the 
parents of twelve children, as follows: 
Thomas, Mary, Catherine, John, Daniel, 
Margaret, Elizabeth, James, Henry, Nancy, 



Julia A. and Chester A. The paternal 
grandfather, John Miller, who was a native 
of Germany, came to America prior to 
the Revolutionary war, and was a soldier 
in that war. The maternal grandfather, 
Thomas Crill, was also a native of German}', 
who came to .\merica before the Re\ohition- 
ary war, and assisted m the struggle for in- 
dependence. 

In his native countx' ami state the sub- 
ject of this sketch grew to manhood, and 
received a limited education in the schools 
of that early day. In 1844 he came to Illi- 
nois, located in Ogle cmintx, where he hrst 
purchased eight)' acres of government land, 
to which he later added another eight)' acres. 
That tract he improved until it was one of 
the best in Ogle count)'. On the 1 8th of 
November, 1847, he married Mary E. War- 
ren, a native of Delaware, and the\' com- 
menced their domestic life on the farm 
which he had purchased some three years 
previously. They there continued to reside, 
a period of forty-two years, when Mrs. Mil- 
ler was called to her reward, her death oc- 
curring June 9, 1889, at the age of sixty-five 
years. 

After the death of his wife, Mr. Miller 
sold his farm and moved to Fairdale, where 
he is now living a retired life. He is a mem- 
ber of the Christian church, of which body 
his wife was also a member. In politics he 
is a Republican, and while in Ogle county 
held the office of road commissioner and 
school director. 

Elizabeth McBride, the sister of Mr. 
Miller, who is now acting as his housekeeper, 
was also born in Oneida county. New York, 
.April 25, 1824. In 1846 she came with her 
parents to Ogle county, Illinois, and in 185 i 
married James McBride, a native of New 
York state, by whom she had seven children, 



262 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



five of whom are living, George, Elizabeth, 
Alice, Grant and C'lra The deceased are 
Leona and Lucy F. Her liusliand died in 
Iowa in 1874, at the age t f sixty 3 ears. 



MD. SHIPMAN, of the firm of Bradt& 
Shipman, of De Kalb, Illinois, is one 
of the leading business men of that city. 
He is a native of Cortland county, New 
York, and was born on the nth of June, 
1848. He is the son of Dr. J. A. and Azu- 
bah (Hunter) Shipman, both of whom werp 
born in New York state. 

Dr. J. A. Shipman was a skilled physi- 
cian and a man whose influence for good 
was felt not only within the large circle of 
his own patronage, but all through his ac- 
quaintances far and near. In 1853 he re- 
moved to Bureau county, Illinois, where he 
successfully practiced his profession. In 
1868 he moved to De Ivalb, Illinois, from 
which place he removed in 1873, to Henry 
county, from Henry county to Prairie City, 
Illinois. Here he resided for the remainder 
of his days, respected as a citizen, trusted 
as a physician, and honored as a gentleman 
of the highest order. Dr. Shipman passed 
to his reward March 6, 1885, at the age of 
seventy-three years, while his wife's demise 
had occurred many years before when they 
were residents of De Kalb. She was fifty- 
two years of age at the time of her death. 
Their family consisted of five children, two 
of whom are now living, Mrs. Mattie Mack- 
lin of this city, and M. D., the subject of 
this sketch. 

M. D. Shipman is second in order of 
birth. He received his early schooling in 
the district schools of Bureau county and 
high school of De Kalb, and subsequently 
attended the Northwestern Universit\- at 



Evanston, Illinois. At the conclusion of his 
school days in 1872, he became associated 
with C. E. l^riidt )n the m mufactnre and 
sale of gloves at whoK sale. Their factory is 
on Si.xth near Main street, De Kalb. The 
same firm is also extensively e gaged in tlie 
manufacture of delivery wagons and patent 
glove fasteners, at Gloversville, New York, 
nnder the firm name of Shipman, Bradt & 
Co., which business has grown to a great 
extent. Mr. Siiipman has the entire confi- 
dence of the citizens of De Kalb. He has 
been elected to the presidency of the board 
of education, and is president of the Elec- 
tric Light Company of De Kalb. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
of which he is a worthy trustee. 

On the 20th of December, 1882, Mr. 
Shipman was united in marriage with Miss 
Jennie B. Bradt, daughter of A. and Amy 
A. Bradt, a sketch of whom appears else- 
where in this work. To this union has been 
born three children: Andrew, born in 1883: 
Louise, in i 885 ; and Orville, in 1888. Mr. 
Shipman has descended from a noble line 
of ancestors, whose skill, loyalty and patri- 
otism has been handed down to posteril}' by 
the pen of the historian. His grandfather, 
Daniel Shipman, was the father of five phj'- 
sicians of wide influence and practice in New 
York and Illinois. Daniel Shipman was an 
early settler of Saybrook, an(i was a Pres- 
byterian minister of the old school. He was 
especially distinguished for his industry and 
strict integrity. His wife, the grandmother 
of our subject, was Sarah Eastman, a daugh- 
ter of Dr. Azariah Eastman, an eminent 
physician of his day, and who creditably 
bore the arnmr of his profession for nearl\- 
seventy years. Dr. ERStman was a lineal 
descendant of the Franklins, and a relation 
of the illustrious statesman and philosopher. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



263 



Three of Daniel Shipman's brothers and 
granduncles of our subject, were actively 
engaged in the Revolutionary war, and at 
one time were taken prisoners by the 
British and held as such in a prison ship 
at Brooklyn, New York. They were early 
settlers in Connecticut, and were of Eng- 
lish descent. The Hunters on the mother's 
side were of Scotch e.xtraction, a people 
noted for their nobleness of character. 



A CHARLES DOANE, marble dealer of 
Sycamore, is a native of De Kalb 
county, born in South Grove township, 
August 2, 1855, and resided in that town- 
ship until the age of twelve years, when he 
moved with his parents to Malta. He re- 
ceived a good common-school education, 
with instruction in some of the higher 
branches, and for some years taught school 
during the winter months and worked at his 
trade of carpenter during the summer. He 
is the son of Joseph E. and Margaret (Mur- 
phy) Doane, the former a native of St. 
Lawrence county. New York, born Decem- 
ber 18, 1835, 3iid the latter a native of Ire- 
land, who came to America with her parents 
at the age of two years. Joseph E. Doane 
came west in 1854, and settled in South 
Grove township, De Kalb county, Illinois. 
He was by trade a carpenter and an exct4- 
lent and energetic workman, alwa\s com- 
manding higher wages than others. On 
coming to De Kalb county he purchased a 
farm in South Grove township, aid later 
purchased his prusent farm of three hun- 
dred and thirty-four and a half acres adjoin- 
ing the village of Malta. To Joseph E. 
Doane and wife seven children were born: 
Virginia L. , ntnv the wife of Rev. Cass 
Davis, of Sterling, Illinois; A. Charles, our 



subject; Leslie A., who is farming in Wis- 
consin; William D., who is mining in Col- 
orado; Dorothy M., a fine vocalist, who re- 
sides at home; Seymour G., who is rail- 
roading in Wyoming; and Agnes K., wife of 
W. I. Collins, of Malta. 

In the spring of 1879, our subject went 
to Colorado, and located eighteen miles 
north of Leadville, where he remained three 
and a half years, prospecting and mining. 
This not proving profitable, he returned to 
Illinois in the fall of i 882, and taught school 
during the winter of 1882-83. I" the spring 
of 1883 he went to Dakota, but not being 
satisfied, he returned to Malta, where he 
worked at carpentering and farming for five 
years. From Malta he went to Chicago, 
where he worked five months in a factory, 
then for four years at his trade. In August, 
1896, he came to Sycamore and engaged 
in the marble business. He knew nothing 
whatever of that line of trade, but soon ad- 
justed himself to it, and has now a thorough 
understanding of the business. With char- 
acteristic energy he soon built up a large 
trade, which is constantly increasing. His 
greatest endeavor has been to make his 
reputation for reliable work and material, 
and a name equal to that of his father for 
probit}' and honesty. 

Mr. Doane has been twice married, — 
first in 1886, with Miss Jennie Earl, who 
d ed within a y ar after th.;ir marriage. 
His second uuiju wis with Miss Jeannette 
Morey. the weJding ceremony being cele- 
brate d in Malta township in 1888. She is 
the daughter of Ariel S. and Elizabeth (Van 
Vlack) Morey. The former is a native of 
Herkimer county, New York, born May 24, 
1840, and who came west when a boy with 
his parents. Smith and Jeannette (Smith) 
Morey. Smith Morey was the son of Jesse 



264 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Morey. Mrs. Elizabeth Morey is the daugh- 
ter of William and Maria (Oliver) \'an 
Vlack. Ariel Morey and wife are the par- 
ents of five children, of whom Mrs. Doane 
is second in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. 
Doane have two sons, Harr}' and Milo, now 
attendmg the home school. 

Mr. and Mrs. Doane are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of 
which they are actively engaged. Frater- 
nally he is a member of the Modern Wood- 
men of America and Home Forum, while 
Mrs. Doane is a member of the Daughters 
of the Globe and Home Forum. Mr. 
Doane comes of a musical family, and is 
himself a nujsician of more than ordinary 
abilitw For four years he was the leader 
of the Malta band, and under his leadership 
the band had an e.vcellent reputation 
throughout northern Illinois. 



RICHARD B. PROCTOR, an enterpris- 
ing farmer of Franklin township, is a 
native of Kno.v county, Ohio, born Sep- 
tember 29, 1827, and is the son of Thomas 
and Eliza (Norton) Proctor, the former a 
native of New York and the latter of Penn- 
sylvania. They were the parents of four 
children, Elizabeth, Mary A., Richard B. 
and Watie Jane, all of whom are deceased 
save our subject. The paternal grandfa- 
ther, Richard Proctor, was a native of 
England prior to the Revolutionary war, 
and settled in Pennsylvania. In an early 
day Thomas Proctor, the father, removed 
from his Pennsylvania home to Kno.\ coun- 
ty. Ohio, and there engaged in farming. He, 
however, lived but a short time after his 
arri\al, and died November 11, 1829, at 
tlic age of thirty-five years. His widow 
later married Dr. Andrew Shephard, a native 



of New York, and in 1836 they came to Illi- 
nois and located in Ogle county. Three 
vears later they removed to De Kalb county, 
and purchased one hundred and sixty acres 
of government land, the farm on which our 
subject now resides. Both the Doctor and 
his wife died upon that farm. 

The subject of this sketch came to Illi- 
nois with his mother and stepfather, and 
with them continued to reside. He was 
reared upon the farm and received his edu- 
cation in the common district school. On 
the 12th of March, 1856, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Sarah C. Lyon, and by 
this union there are twelve children, three 
of whom died in infancy. The living are 
Lizzie, Willis, .\da, .Arthur, Clara, Ernest, 
Clark, Ralph and Glenn. Of these, Ada 
married Rev. Dr. John Butcher, a nati\'e of 
England, and with him spent ten years in 
India, where he was engaged in missionarj- 
work. The Doctor is a highly educated 
man, a fine worker, and is now located at 
Palatine, Illinois. Clark is a ph\ sician lo- 
cated in Des Moines, Iowa. Willis is a 
professor in the college at Kirksville, Mis- 
souri. Clara is also a physician, and is a 
graduate of the Albion, Michigan, College; 
is now at Kirks\ille, Missouri. Ralph is on 
the home farm, while Glenn is attending 
school. 

The maternal grandfather, Isaac Nor- 
ton, Jr., was a native of Long Island, New 
York, and was a tailor by trade. His fa- 
ther. Rev. Isaac Norton, Sr., was a native 
of England, who came to .America before 
the Revolution, and during that struggle 
was a chaplain in the army. He was also 
chaplain in the halls of congress at Phila- 
delphia. Religiously he was a Baptist. 
His death occurred at the age of ninety- 
two vears. Rev. Isaac Norton, Jr., was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



265 



also a Baptist minister, and died at Byron, 
Illinois, at the age of eighty-seven years. 
Two uncles of our subject, Isaac and Bart- 
lett Norton, were soldiers in the war of 
1812. Few families have a better record 
for patriotism than that of the Nortons. 

In politics Mr. Proctor is a Prohibition- 
ist, believing firmly m the principles of that 
party. For thirteen years he served as 
school trustee. A member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, he takes an active interest 
in the work, giving of his time and means to 
advance the cause of religion and morality- 
He has been a very successful farmer, and 
has now four hundred and seventeen acres 
of well improved land. No man in Frank- 
lin township is held in higher esteem. 



GEORGE E. SISLEY, postmaster of 
Genoa and editor of the Genoa Issue, 
was born in Chicago, Illinois, April 3, 1865, 
and is the son of William and Anna (Ly- 
man) Sisley, both natives of New York, 
and who were the parents of four children 
as follows; William L., a merchant of 
Hampshire, Illinois; Lyman A., a mining 
broker, in Butte, Montana; Emma L. , 
wife of Charles H. Backus, of Hampshire, 
Illinois; and George E. , our subject. The 
mother died in Hampshire about 1887. 

George E. Sisley removed with his par- 
ents to Geneva, when quite young, and 
there grew to manho )d, receiving his edu- 
cation in the public schools of that city. 
Entering the office of the Geneva Repub'ican 
he spent four years in learning the printer's 
trade. He then went to Elgin, Illinois, 
where he remained one year, working at 
his trade, and from there went to Hamp- 
shire, Illinois, and started the Hampshire 
Register, with which he was connected until 



i8go. In that year he went to Port Town- 
send, Washington, where he remained a 
year and a half. Returning east, he was 
employed at his trade in Chicago during 
the World's Fair. In March, 1894, he 
came to Genoa and purchased the Genoa 
Issue, of which he has since been editor 
and publisher. 

Mr. Sisley was married June 25, 1891, 
at Hampshire, Illinois, with Miss Gertrude 
Schoonmaker, daughter of Michael J. and 
Florence (Webb) Schoonmaker, the former 
a naiive of Fairdale, Oswego countv. New 
York, born October 24, 1836, and who died 
May 5, 1897. He was the son of Michael 
and Kate (Van Alstine) Schoonmaker, and 
came west about 1856, locating first at 
Marengo, Illinois. In his youth he learned 
the carpenter's trade, which occupation he 
followed until his death. He lived a few 
years in various towns in Iowa and Illinois, 
removing to Hampshire, Illinois, in 1874, 
where the remainder of 'his life was spent. 
During the Civil war he ser\ed as a mem- 
ber of Compan)' K, Fifteenth Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry. He was married July 4, 
1866, in Marengo, Illinois, to Miss Flor- 
ence Webb, born in Forrest, New York, 
and a daughter of Frederick and Catherine 
(Mead) Webb, the latter a daughter of 
Amos and Phebe (Ashley) Mead. By trade 
Frederick Webb was a carpenter, and came 
west and settled in Marengo, Illinois, where 
his death occurred at the age of seventy- 
three years. He was a son of Bliss and 
Flora Webb. Of the eight children born 
to Michael J. and Florence Schoonmaker, 
Mrs. Sisley is second in order of b rth. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Sisley one son has been 
born, George Raymond. 

Mr. Sislev is very fond of athletic 
sports, and he is an enthusiastic wheel- 



266 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



man. Fraternally he is a member of Ge- 
noa Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of Syca- 
more Chapter, K. A. M. He is also a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. 
x\s a citi/en he is thoroughl)' ali\e to the 
best interests of his adopted city and coun- 
ty, and through the columns of his paper 
advocates every measure for the public 
good. In politics he is a thorough Repub- 
lican and as a reward for services ren- 
dered his party, was appointed postmaster 
of Genoa in November, if^yj. He was 
also city treasurer in i8yO. 



HARRISON MACKEV, for many years 
one of the leading citizens of Mayfield 
township, residing on section ii, where he 
had a fine farm of over fi\e hundred acres 
of land, was a native of New York, born in 
Ulster county, April 22, 181 3, and was the 
son of Levi and Rebecca 1 Scott) Mackey, 
also natives of New York, who there spent 
their entire lives. The Mackeys are of 
German ancestry, the first of the name set- 
tling in New York at a very early day. Levi 
and Rebecca Mackey were the parents of 
eight children — John, Julia A., Griffin, Gil- 
man, Harriet, Harrison, Thorn .M. and 
Mary |. The father died about iSq.S and 
the mother in June, 1838. 

The subject of this sketch remained at 
home until about fifteen years of age, when 
he went to Orange county, New York, for 
the purpose of learning the blacksmith's 
trade. After serving an apprenticeship of 
about four years, he went to New Jersey 
and worked as a journeyman about one 
year, and then spent several months in his 
native county, returning to Orange county, 
where he commenced business for himself 



at his trade and continued for six years. 
The great west was now being rapidly set- 
tled, and, like many others, he determined 
to seek his fortune in the Prairie state. In 
the spring of 1839 he came to Mayheld 
township and located upon section 1 1 , where 
he opened up a farm and there spent the 
remainder of his life. 

.\lr. Macke}' was first married in Orange 
county. New York, about 1834, to Miss 
Mary Hall, a native of Sullivan county. New 
York, and by this union there were three 
children: [ulia A. was the wife of ]. O. 
Westlake. She died April 8, 1869. Mary 
R. married H. H. Coleman, and they reside 
in Sycamore. Eliza ]. married J. E. Parker, 
and they also live in Sycamore. Mrs. Mackey 
died in Mayfield township January 22, 1856, 
and Mr. Macke}' was again married in New 
York state, June 18, 1857, to Mrs. Eliza 
(Bondj Westlake, widow of Benjamin West- 
lake, who died in Orange county, New York, 
November 18, 1853. I^y her former mar- 
riage she became the mother of seven chil- 
dren — David B., Milton G., Hannah E., 
Mary .A. , Charlotte W. , John O. and Morris 
H. Milton (i. died when nearly twenty-one 
years of age. Mrs. Mackey was born in 
Orange county. New Y'ork, December i, 
181 I, and died in Maytield township, l)e 
Kalb county, Illinois, Jul}- 8, 1888, and was 
buried in the cemetery at Sycamore. She 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, of which her husband was an at- 
tendant. 

In addition to general farming, in which 
he was quite successful, Mr. Mackey en- 
gaged in dairying for a time and also in 
stock raising. He became quite prominent 
in the affairs of the township and held many 
local offices. Politically, he was thoroughly 
independent, voting for the one he consid- 




HARRISON MACKEY. 




MRS. MARY HALL MACKEY. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



271 



ered the best man, regardless of party. A 
pioneer of the county, he was instrumental 
in its growth and development and did all 
that he could to advance its material inter- 
est. As a citizen he was thoroughly pro- 
gressive, and as a neighbor he was kind and 
obliging, ever ready to render a favor. His 
death occurred upon the old home farm 
August 22, 1890, and his remains were laid 
to rest in the old family graveyard in May- 
tield township. 



CHARLES E. BRADT, a well known 
business man of De Kalb, Illinois, and 
a member of the firm of Bradt & Shipman, 
glove manufacturers, has spent almost his 
entire life in De Kalb county. He is a na- 
tive of Gloversville, Fulton county, New 
York, born January 27, 1852, and is the 
son of Andrew and Amy A. (Sweet) Bradt, 
both of whom were born in the town of 
Ephratah, Fulton county, New York, the 
former May 15, 1824, and the latter Janu- 
ary 20, 1828. They became the parents of 
nine children, five of whom are deceased. 
The living are Charles E., Jennie S., 
Samuel E. and Laura Luella. 

Andrew Bradt is the son of Anthony J. 
and Hannah (Peek) Bradt, both natives of 
the state of New York. He was reared on 
a farm, educated in the district schools and 
at the age of seventeen commenced teaching 
in his native township, a profession he fol- 
lowed for several winters while during the 
summer seasons he worked upon the farm. 
His marriage with Miss Amy Ann Sweet was 
celebrated January 31, 1.S48. Eight years 
later he came west and purchased one hun- 
dred and forty acres of land in sections 23 
and 24, De Kalb township, where he en- 



gaged in agricultural pursuits. For several 
winters he engaged in selling gloves and 
mittens to dealers in northern Illinois, pur- 
chasing his stock from the manufactories at 
Gloversville and Johnston, New York. In 
1870, in company with his son, he started a 
glove factory in De Kalb but two years later 
disposed of his interest. He was the first man 
to introduce glove making northwest of Chi- 
cago and the first to sell them in the same 
territory. A local preacher in the Method- 
ist Episcopal church, he has been instru- 
mental in building it up in De Kalb. He is 
a man of sterling worth, well known and 
highly honored by^all. 

Charles E. Bradt, our subject, grew to 
manhood in De Kalb county, and received 
his primary education in the district schools. 
He later attended the Northwestern Univer- 
sity, at Evanston, Illinois, where he com- 
pleted his school life. After leaving school 
he succeeded his father in business, and in 
1872 formed a co-partnership with M. D. 
Shipman, which relation still continues. 
For more than a quarter of a century they 
have been engaged in the manufacture of 
gloves and have a e.xtensive business 
throughout the Northwest, employing'at 
certain seasons several traveling salesmen. 
With Mr. Shipman, he is also engaged in 
the manufacture of delivery wagons, under 
the firm name of Shipman & Bradt. This 
business has grown to quite extensive pro- 
portions and has been fairly profitable in 
their hands. 

On the 4th of September, 1885, Mr. 
Bradt was united in marriage with Miss 
Alice K. Hopkins, a native of De Kalb 
county and a daughter of Thomas M. and 
Julia A. (Hawken) Hopkins, the former a 
native of Washington county. New York, 
and the latter of St. Louis, Missouri. Her 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



father was for many years a well known 
attorney in De Kalb, but is now deceased. 
Mr. Bradt is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of De Kalb, and is one of 
the official board. He i.s quite active in 
church work, and is a firm believer in the 
Christian religion. Fraternally he is a Mason, 
a member of the blue lodge at De Kalb, 
of the Knight Templars at Sycamore, and the 
Mystic Shrine at Chicago. Politically he is 
a Republican, and has been a member of 
the city council, taking an active interest in 
its proceedings, and working for the best 
interests of the city which has so long been 
his home. He has also served as a mem- 
ber of the school board, taking great inter- 
est in educational affairs. As a citizen he 
is thoroughly progressive, ready at all times 
to (Jo his full share in advancing the mater- 
ial interests of his city and county. 



CHARLES C. POND, who is engaged in 
the insurance business at Sycamore, 
traces his ancestry back to earl)' colonial 
days. The first known of the family in 
America was Samuel Pond, of Windsor, Con- 
necticut. His son, Samuel, the earliest an- 
cestor of our subject positively known, is 
supposed from a number of corroborating 
circumstances to be the second of his chil- 
dren. The latter had a son born in 1679, 
whom he also named Samuel. The next in 
line was Philip, born in 1706, whose son, 
Daniel, born in 1726, was known as the pa- 
triarch because of his large family of seven- 
teen children, the greater number of whom 
grew to maturity. He moved with his en- 
tire family to Poultney, Vermont, when that 
region was a wilderness, and there acquired 
a fine estate. Pond Hill, near the place, be- 
ing named in his honor. William Pond, the 



son of Daniel, born in 1763, married Ruth 
Wood. He served in the Revolutionary 
war, and died in 1838. Harry Pond, son 
of William, was born in Lenox, Berkshire 
county, Massachusetts, in 1798, and re- 
moved with his father's family to Poultney, 
Vermont, where he died. He married Lo- 
vina HoUembeak, a native of Ticonderoga 
county. New York. Their son, Americus 
H. Pond, was born in Crawford count}', 
Pennsylvania, January 30, 1831, and finished 
his education in Grand River Institute in 
Ashtabula county, Ohio. 

In 1 85 1, Americus H. Pond came west 
and located m Genoa township, where he 
began life for himself. During the first win- 
ter he taught school for eighteen dollars per 
month, a sum that seems paltry to teachers 
of to-day. For a number of years he rented 
land, it seeming almost impossible for him 
to get a substantial start in life. He bought 
his first land in 1859, a tract of one hundred 
and twenty acres, which he sold in 1865 
and bought his present farm, which now 
consists of nearly three hundred acres of the 
finest land in northern Illinois. He is a 
man of whom all speak in the highest terms 
of praise, and has frequently been urged to 
represent his district in the house or state 
senate, but prefers to be a private citizen. 
He married Amy HoUembeak, a daughter 
of Ruloff and Electa (Ames) HoUembeak. 
The weddii g ceremony was performed Jan- 
uary 34, 1852. Ruloff HoUembeak was the 
son of Abram HoUembeak, whose father was 
one of three brothers who came from Hol- 
land in colonial days. 

Charles C. Pond is the oldest son of 
Americus H. and Amy Pond, and was born 
in Sycamore township, De Kalb county, Illi- 
nois, December 24, 1856. His parents re- 
moved to Genoa township, three years later, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



273 



where he was reared and attended the dis- 
trict schools, which was followed by a course 
in the Sycamore schools, and one year in 
Rock River Seminary at Mt. Morris, Illinois. 
After completing his studies he taught school 
for five winters, working on a farm the re- 
maining seasons of the year. 

On the 30th of September, 1880, Mr. 
Pond was united in marriage with Miss 
Rosetta Harned, a native of Mayfield town- 
ship, De Kalb county, and a daughter of 
Edmund B. Harned, born in Smithtown, 
Suffolk county, Long Island, July 13, 1829. 
He was the son of Hosea Harned, also a 
native of Smithtown, Long Island, born in 
1798, and who married Rosetta Brown, a 
native of the same place, born in 1799. 
Jacob Harned, the father of Hosea, was 
born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and soon 
after the Revolutionar}' war settled on a 
tract of one thousand acres of land, on 
Long Island, where his family was born. 
He died there in 1824, when about seventy- 
five years old. The name was originally 
Harne, but the spelling was changed by the 
addition of the letter d. Hosea Harned, in 
1832, moved with his family to Ohio, by 
way of the Hudson river, from Sandy Hook 
to Tro}', thence by canal to Buffalo, and 
lake to Ohio. He settled in Geauga county, 
but in 1 85 I came to Illinois. 

Edmund B. Harned married Susan Siv- 
wright, a native of Nova Scotia, born Jan- 
uary 6, 1833, and a daughter of James M. 
Sivwright, born in Windsor, Nova Scotia, 
in 1778, and who died at the age of seven- 
ty-four years. He emigrated to the States 
ill 1844, and located in Mayfield township, 
De Kalb count}', Illinois. He was the son 
of James Sivwright, a native of Scotland, 
born near .-Vburdeen, and who served in the 
}3ritish army against the Americans and was 



in the battle of Bunker Hill. He remained 
in America after the war, and married 
Susan Dalrymple, a native of northern Ire- 
land, whose family were origmally from 
France. She died at the age of one hun- 
dred and five years. James M. Sivwright 
married Prudence Eaton, a native of Nova 
Scotia, born in 1806, and a daughter of 
David and Eunice (Wells) Eaton. 

Soon after his marriage, Mr. Pond re- 
moved to Sycamore, where he engaged in 
the jewelry business for six years, having as 
partners at different times, Messrs. Bacon, 
Warren and Meeker. In the spring of 1888 
he sold his jewelry stock, and in the fall of 
the same year began a successful career in 
the insurance business. For about eight 
years he was a special agent adjusting 
claims through Illinois and Iowa, at the 
same time conducting a local office in Syca- 
uKjre. On the istday of May, 1898, here- 
tired from the adjusting business, and has 
since given his entire time to the Sycamore 
office, representing many of the most sub- 
stantial fire insurance companies doing busi- 
ness in this state. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Pond two children 
have been born, Ethel C. and Amy S. 
Mrs. Pond is a devoted member of the Con- 
gregational church. Fraternally he is a 
Mason and holds membership with the 
blue lodge, chapter and commandery at 
Sycamore. He is also a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America. In politics 
he is a Republican. 



EDWARD M. DELANA, of Cortland, 
Illinois, is a business man of recognized 
ability, and the owner of four large cream- 
eries, which use the product of many farm- 
ers and which turn out a large amount of 



!74 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



butter and cheese that finds a read}' sale in 
Chicago and other markets. He is a na- 
tive of St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois, 
born July 20, 1850, and is the son of Pat- 
rick and Henrietta (Keegan) Delana, both 
nati\es of Ireland, and who were the par- 
ents of five children, one of whom, Thom- 
as, is now deceased. The living are Mary, 
[aniesH., William and Edward M. The 
father came to the United States from Ire- 
land at an early day and located first in the 
village of St. Charles, Illinois, and after- 
wards removed to a farm where our subject 
was born and reared, receiving his educa- 
tion in the common schools. 

In his youth Mr. Delana learned the but- 
ter and cheese trade, with which he has 
since been connected and in which he has 
been quite successful. In June, 1S87. he 
was united in marriage with Miss Ella 
Keenan, a native of De Kalb county, by 
whom he has had two children, Edward and 
George. 

The family are members of the Catho- 
lic church, and in politics he is a Democrat. 
He has served as school director and 
trustee. He is a man that is esteemed, 
not alone b\' the friends and neighbors 
around him, but also by his employees in 
the various factories, and the public in gen- 
eral. 



RE V. W I L L I A M HUTCHINSON 
SMITH, pastor of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, Genoa, Illinois, was born 
four miles from Rome, in the town of West- 
ern, Oneida county. New York, June 16, 
1829, and is the son of Edward B. Smith, 
born in Whitestown. Chautauqua county. 
New York, and the grandson oi William 
Smith, who married L)dia Cleghorn. (^n 



the 26th of October, 1825, Edward B. 
Smith married Harriet Hutchinson, born 
May 7, 1804, and a daughter of Dr. Zenas 
Hutchinson, who was president of the first 
medical society formed in New York and 
whoremoved from that state toConnecticut. 
He was born November 21, 1770, at Leba- 
non, Connecticut, and was the son of Paul 
and Susanna (Sprague) Hutchinson. The 
wife of Dr. Zenas Hutchinson was Fannie 
Smith, born in Scotland, September 17, 
1780, and a daughter of Tyler Smith. 

The subject of this sketch lived in his 
native county, until 1850, in the meantime 
attending the district schools, and later 
spending two years in the Rome Academy. 
He then taught school one term and in March, 
1850, came west to Hillsdale county, Mich- 
igan, where he remained about si.\ months 
and from there went to Branch county, 
south of Coldwater, and later spent eighteen 
months at Adrian and the same length of 
time at Allegan, Michigan. While at Ad- 
rian, on the 4th of May, 1853, he married 
Mary Elizabeth St. John, a native of Pal- 
myra, New York, and daughter of Rev. 
Marshall St. John, of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church, a native of Vermont, who died 
in 1852 at the age of forty-five years. His 
wife uas Mary Catherine Brodock, a native 
of Pennsylvania. Of their four children 
Mrs. Smith was first in order of birth. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Smith ten children have been 
born. Willard Marshall is an attorney re- 
siding in La Salle, Illinois. Ida Z. at home. 
Seymour E. resides at Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania. Charles Anderson died at the age 
of one year. Cornelia E. is a teacher in 
the public schools of Richmond, Illinois. 
Harriet H. is a teacher at .'\ustin, Illinois. 
Morris S. is with Barnarfi tS: Co., Chicago. 
He married Nellie Keifer, and the\' have 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



^75 



two children, Paul and Ruth. Albert G. 
married Gertrude Lytle, and they reside at 
Palatine, Illinois. Grace C. married Frank 
T. Parsons, and their children are Winfield 
and Donald. They reside at Williams' Bay, 
Wisconsin. Frank A. married Nellie Julian 
and they have one child, Kenneth. 

In the fall of 1855, Mr. Smith went to 
Aurora, where he worked at the carpenter's 
trade for a short time and then secured rail- 
road work at Galesburg, but retained his 
home in Aurora for two years. In the fall 
of 1S57 he went to Lee county, Illinois, on 
a farm near Mulligan's Grove, and taught 
school at West Brooklyn. In 1858 he was 
licensed as a minister in the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, and in the fall of 1859, joined 
the Rock River conference. He was first 
stationed at Polo, Illinois, and from there 
went to- Fulton City. In the fall of 1862, 
he became captain of the Seventy-fifth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry, the regiment being 
assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. 
It was in various engagements, first at Nash- 
ville, with General Porter, and then at Stone 
River, Lookout Mountain, Chickamagua, on 
the march from Chattanooga to Blue Springs, 
in the battle of Dalton, and also at Buz- 
zard's Roost. Having contracted a severe 
cold, he was discharged after eighteen 
months' service and returned to his home. 

By the Rock River conference he was 
assigned to Di.xon, Illinois, and later sent 
to Aurora, where betook charge of Jennings 
Seminary. Leaving that institution he ac- 
cepted a charge at Newark, Kendall coun- 
ty, and the following year was at Sandwich. 
In the fall of 1866 he went to Polo, Illinois, 
during which time he erected the church 
building at that place, and was then three 
3'ears at Sterling. From there he went to 
La Salle, where he remained two years, in 



the meantime building a house of worship. 
.After being at Mendota two years he was 
elected presiding elder and served four years. 
He was ne.xt assigned the church at De 
Kalb, where he remained one year, and was 
then sent to Rockford for three years. From 
Rockford he went to Marengo for two years, 
after which he was at Paw Paw two years, 
Hinckley two years, Richmond and Hebron 
two years, and Palatine four years, erect- 
ting a tine church at the latter place. 
In the fall of 1896 he was assigned 
to Genoa, where he still remains. Mr. 
Smith has line architectural talent and 
has furnished plans for the Methodist Epis- 
copal church at Oregon, Illinois, and Platt- 
ville, Wisconsin, which plans were copied 
by the church at Waterloo, Dakota. In 
politics Mr. Smith is a Republican, and fra- 
ternally is a member of the G. A. R. post at 
Rockford, and Rock River Lodge, No. 612, 
at Sterling, Illinois. As a minister of the 
gospel he has been very successful and in- 
strumental in bringing many souls into the 
kingdom of Christ. 



JOEL W. CL.ARK, proprietor of the 
Malta Hotel, Malta, Illinois, was born 
in Clarksburg, Massachusetts, January 9. 
1837, and is the son of Benjamin W. and 
Lovina (Ketchum) Clark, both also natives 
of Clarksburg, Massachusetts, the former 
being the son of Saley Clark, of the same 
place. The Clarks were numbered among 
the first settlers in Massachusetts, and were 
prominent farmers in that part of the state 
in which they lived. They are of English 
extraction. Saley Clark in particular was 
a man of wide influence, the very town in 
which he was born taking its name from 
him. He served in the state legislature of 



27b 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Massachusetts where his abihty was recog- 
nized by all. 

Benjamin W. Clark removed with his 
family to Illinois about 1858, locating in 
DuPage county, where the family remained 
a short time, when they removed to De 
Kalb county, where the father died in 1863, 
at the age of fifty-two years, his wife sur- 
viving him many years, dying in 1890. at 
the age of seventy-four years. They were 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and were lo\'al to the Master's 
cause. They were the parents of fi\e 
children, of whom four are yet living. 
He also served in the legislature of Massa- 
chusetts. 

Joel W. Clark spent his boyhood in his 
native town and county, and in its pub- 
lic schools received his education. He re- 
mained at home until fifteen years of age, 
at which time he came west to DuPage 
counts', Illinnis. where his uncle, Levi 
Ketchum, then resided, and with whom he 
lived three years. This was previous to 
the removal of his parents. It was in 
1856, during the Fremont and Buchanan 
campaign, that he removed to De Kalb 
county, where he remained until 1865, and 
then went to Lee county, where he pur- 
chased eighty acres of land, to which he 
soon added an additional seventy acres, all 
of which was in a good state of cultivation. 
On that farm he resided until March, 1898, 
when, in partnership with his nephew, L. 
Clark, he took possession of the Malta 
Hotel, buying out William Vanarchdale. 
Mr. Clark repaired and remodeled the house, 
putting in new furniture and renovating it 
from garret to cellar, making it neat and 
comfortable, one in which the traveling 
jMiblic can take delight. 

Mr. Clark has been twice married, his 



first union being \vitli Miss .Maria Ki'tchimi, 
daughter of Jesse and Sarah Ketchum, and 
they were united January- 9, 185S. She 
was born in DuPage county. By this union 
there were three children: Orian L. , born 
July 19, i860, died September 26, 1861; 
Walter C. , born |une 22, 1867, died March 
5, 1872; Lulu M.. born July 24, 1878, is yet 
living. On the 22d of March, 1895, he was 
joined in marriage with Miss Lizzie [ohn- 
ston, daughter of John and Ann Johnston, 
and by this union there is one child, Helen 
Lovina, born Februar)' 2, 1896. Mrs. 
Clark comes of a long-lived race, her 
grandparents now living at the advanced 
age of one hundred and five years in the 
north of Ireland are hale and heartw 



HENRY WORE, a veteran of the war 
for the Union, who for three years 
served his adopted country faithfully, as a 
member of the One Hundred and Fifth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, now resides 
upon a fine farm of four hundred and forty- 
six acres of well-improved land in section 
25, Franklin township. He is a native of 
Norfolk, England, born Februarv 3, 1837, 
and is the son of William and Mary Worf, 
both of whom were also natives of Norfolk, 
England. They were the parents of eleven 
children, George, William, John, James, 
Abraham, Henry, Isaac, Charles, Maria, 
Sophia and Sarah. Of these all are de- 
ceased save William, Abraham, Henry and 
Sophia. 

The boyhood and youth of our subject 
was spent in his natix'e land, where he re- 
ceived a very limited education. With a 
desire to better his condition in life, he con- 
cluded to try his fortunes in the new world, 
and in 1S56 left his nati\e land and came 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



27? 



direct to Kirkland, De Kalb countj-, Illinois. 
On his arrival he secured work on various 
farms and continued to be thus employed 
by the m^nth for about six years, in the 
meantime attendmg the public schools dur- 
ing the winter, thus receiving a pretty fair 
education. His adopted country was now 
in the midst of a struggle for its life, and 
his sympathies being with the down-trodden 
and oppressed, he enlisted at Kingston, Illi- 
nois, August 2, 1862, in Company C, One 
Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, a regiment that has a proud record 
for service in the war. With his regiment 
he was in the battles of Resaca, Atlanta, 
Mt. Hickory, Bentonville and various minor 
engagements. After the Atlanta campaign, 
his regiment was with Sherman on the 
march to the sea. and at the conclusion of 
the war was in the grand review at Wash- 
ington. It was discharged June 6, 1865, at 
Washington, D. C. 

After receiving his discharge, Mr. Worf 
returned to De Kalb county, and again 
worked by the month, and saving his hard 
earnings, in 1882, he purchased two hun- 
dred and six acres of land in Kingston town- 
ship, which he sold. His present farm 
comprises two hundred and forty acres, 
which is highly improved and one of the 
best in Franklin township. 

On the 14th of October, 1S79, Mr. 
Worf was united in marriage with Miss 
Susan Zubler, a native of Pennsylvania, 
and by this union there are three children, 
Bessie, Charles and Alta. Their home life 
is a happy one. Mr. Worf still maintains 
his interest in his war record, and is now a 
member of Barnes Post, G. .\. R. He 
is also a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity, holding membership in the blue 
lodge at Kingston, and in the command- 



ery at Sycamore. In politics he is an 
ardent Republican, having given his support 
to that party since his arrival in this coun- 
try. He landed here during the first presi- 
dential campaign of that party, and identi- 
fying himself with it. has continued to vote 
the party ticket. While it took him some 
years to obtain his first real start in life, 
since acquiring his first tract of land he has 
been verj' successful, and is now numbered 
among the well-to-do and wide-awake farm- 
ers of De Kalb countw 



QAMUEL (}UIST, contractor and builder, 
O S3'camore, Illinois, forms one of that 
large number of citizens of Sweden who 
are among the most desirable emigrants that 
make up our cosmopolitan population. Ever 
since the first settlement made b\' the 
Swedes in Delaware, they have been a 
worthy factor in western civilization. Being 
thrifty and energetic, the}' soon become in 
sympathy with Am.erican institutions, and 
are true patriots, willing to do all they can 
in defense of their adopted country. 

Samuel Ouist was born near the town 
of Svvengungen, Sweden, October 8, 1850, 
and is the son of Swenig and Annette (An- 
derson) Ouist, both of whom were natives 
of the same country, the father being born 
in 181 I. He came to America a few years 
after our subject, with whom he now makes 
his home. Swenig and Annette Ouist were 
the parents of four sons and four daughters. 
The paternal grandfather was Gus Nelson, 
who after service in the army in a war with 
Germany was given the surname of Ouist, 
which has since been the family name. 

In his native country our subject grew 
to manhood and attended the parochial 
schools between the ages of se\en and four- 



>;8 



TTir: I5IOGRAPIIICAL RECORD 



teen, at which time he was contirmcil in the 
Lutheran church. From fifteen to twenty- 
one he worked on his father's farm. As 
soon as he arrived at maturity he deter- 
mined to emi;.jrate to America, and there- 
fore sailed from Gothbur^, Sweden, for 
Hull, England, crossed to Eiverpool and 
sailed for New York, landing; in that city 
the later fiart of April, 1871. From Xew 
York he came directly west and secured 
work for five months on a farm in Cook 
cOLUits', Illinois. Soon afterwards he went 
to Chicago to learn the trade of car- 
penter, and there worked for three years. 
He then came to Sycamore, Illinois, and 
for nine years worked for Jacob Deiley, 
and then entered into partnership with him, 
which was continued for two years and then 
dissolved. For the succeeding two j'ears he 
was in partnership with his brother, ]ohn 
Lunquist, and W'illiam .Anderson. He then 
bought Mr. Anderson's interest, but re- 
mained two years longer in partnership with 
his other partner. In 1894 that copartner- 
ship was dissolved, since which time our 
subject has carried on the business alone. 
Since 1875 Mr. Ouist has been constantly 
engaged at his trade, and on the greater 
number of fine buildings in Sycamore he 
was either employed or acted as contractor 
and builder. He has now a well eciuipped 
shop with steam power, circular and band 
saws, and turning lathes, molding machines, 
etc. He is prepared to do the finest inside 
and outside work, and employs from fifteen 
to thirty men. 

On the 3d of July, 1877, Mr. Ouist was 
united in marriage at Sycamore, with Miss 
Ida Boline, born in Smolen, Sweden, and 
who came to America in 1869 with her two 
brothers, sailing from Copenhagen in .Au- 
gust, by way of Hull and Liverpool, Eng- 



land, t').N\-\\ \'(irk. She is the daughter 
of Swen M. Boline, who married Guenella 
Peterson, a daughter of Pierre and Dorthea 
(Anderson) Peterson. 

Mr. and Mrs. ()uist li\e in a beautiful 
hotne erected by himself, on corner of Lo- 
cust and Ottawa streets in the fall of 1886. 
They are both members of the Swedish 
Lutheran church, and in politics he is a 
Republican, and fraternally a member of 
the Modern Woodmen of .\merica. As a 
citizen he is enter[)rising and stands high 
in the estimation of his fellow citizens. 



JOHN F. SHOOP is one of the enter- 
prising farmers of Malta township, and 
resides on section 22, where he has a highly 
productive farm. He was born in Pierce 
township, De Kalb county, Illinois, Feb- 
ruary 6, 1857, and is the son of Solomon 
and Catherine (Eberly) Shoop, both natives 
of Pennsylvania, but of German descent. 
They were married in Pennsylvania, where 
they resided for a number of years and 
where the husband and father engaged in 
tilling the soil, the family being held in high 
esteem by their fellow citizens. In 1S48 
thev removed west, locating in Pierce town- 
ship, De Kalb county, Illinois, where he 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
land in its natural state. This land he 
improved by the erection of substantial 
liuiliiings and outhouses and in due time 
had as good a farm as was in the township. 
To his first purchase he added one hundred 
and sixty acres in addition, which he dis- 
posed of in a few years, but retained his 
original farm. Solomon and Catherine 
Shoop were members of the German Evan- 
gelical church, and stood well in the esteem 
of the community, dying at a ripe old age. 




JOHN F. SHOOP. 




MRS. J. F. SHOOP. 



THli BIOGRAPHICAL RECORIJ 



J 8 3 



the former at Pierceville, De Kalb county, 
in March, 1886, and the latter at Hincklej-, 
Pebruary 28, 1892. The\- were the par- 
ents of twelve children, nine of whom grew 
to maturity, and eight of the number now 
living. 

John F. Shoop was seventh in order of 
birth and grew to manhood on the old farm 
in Pierce township, receiving his education 
in the schools of Pierceville. He remained 
at home until he reached his majority, 
when he engaged in farming at various 
points in the count)'. He was married in 
October, 1882, to Miss Margaret Wende- 
berg, who was l^orn at Pierceville, Illinois, 
December 10, i860, and the daughter of 
George and Elizabeth Wendeberg. By 
this union one son has been born, Elmer J., 
April 14, 1887. 

In 1882 Mr. Shoop removed to Malta 
township, where he rented land for one 
year, and then purchased eighty acres of 
improved land on which he resided six 
years and which he worked in a profitable 
manner. Having a chance to sell and 
make a good profit on his investment he 
disposed of that farm and purchased a larger 
one adjacent to the \illage of Malta, con- 
taining one hundred and sixty-three and 
a half acres, on which he now resides. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shoop are active members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church in which 
he has held the office of trustee and steward 
very acceptably for a number of years. 
They are both alive to every christian work 
and never hesitate to do their dut\' in ad- 
vancing the Master's cause. A good farm- 
er, a loyal citizen and an obliging neighbor, 
Mr. Shoop has been honored with several 
township offices, which he has conscien- 
tiously filled to his own credit and the peo- 
ple's good. 

14 



HERMAN G. LOSSMAN, a dairyman 
residing on De Kalb axenue, Syca- 
more, was born in .\nrlam, province of 
Pomerania, Germany, January 1 I, 1852, and 
is the son of Adolph Lossman, also a native 
of Pomerania, Germany. From the age of 
six years, imtil fourteen years old, he at- 
tended the public schools in his native vil- 
lage, and then went to sea and foi- sixteen 
years was a sailor on the ocean and sailed 
all over the known globe in every continent, 
visiting almost evi;ry conntr_\', including 
China, Japan, the Indies, Africa, North and 
South .\merica, the Mediterranean coast, 
White Sea, in .Arctic waters, and in Iceland. 
During this time he ser\-ed his three j'ears 
in the German na\\-, acquitting himself 
with credit. In 1882 he (]uit the sea and 
worked one year with his father on a small 
boat on the Peene river in Germany. In 
1883 he left his native land for America, 
and in due time landed at New York, from 
which place he came to Sycamore, where a 
brother and an uncle had previously located. 
For twelve years he worked in the canning 
factory at Sycamore, five years of which 
time he was employed as foreman. Resign- 
ing his position in the factory, he established 
his present business as milk dealer, pur- 
chasing from the farmers and retailing 
throughout the city. He began in a small 
way, but by his fair dealing his business 
rapidly increased, and he now runs two 
wagons, disposing of eighty gallons of milk 
per day. 

Mr. Lossman was married in Anclam, 
Province of Pomerania, Germany, March 
24, 1882, to Miss Bertha Arndt, who was 
also born in that village and a daughter of 
John and Mary (Arndt) Arndt, both of whom 
spent their entire lives in the old country. 
Of the five children born to our subject rind 



lU 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



wife, William, who is his father's helper in 
the milk business, was born in Germany. 
Frank, George, Anna and Emma were born 
in Sycamore. Mr. and Mrs. Lossman were 
reared in the Lutheran faith, but are now 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
at Sycamore. Fraternally he is a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
and Modern Woodmen of America. In pol- 
itics he is a Republican. Thrifty, enter- 
prising and energetic, he has been fairly 
successful since coming to Sycamore, and 
now owns a neat residence at the west end 
of De Kalb avenue, with a good outfit of 
wagons, horses, etc., necessary for the 
transaction of his business. 



MALCOLM McMURCHV, the present 
supervisor of South Grove township, 
is a fairly well known citizen of the county 
and is a practical farmer, one who has made 
a success of his chosen vocation. He was 
born in Kane county, Illinois, November 3, 
1850, and is the son of Malcolm and Jean- 
nette (Renwick) McMurchy, both of whom 
were natives of Scotland and who were the 
parents of six children, as follows: Daniel, 
Walter, John, Malcolm, Mary and Agnes. 
Malcolm McMurchy, Sr. , was reared in 
his native land and there learned the car- 
penter's trade, an occupation which he fol- 
lowed e.xclusively while yet residing in his 
native land. In an early day he crossed 
the ocean to Canada, and in 1845 came to 
Kane count}' and there worked at his trade. 
On the 29th of March, 1842, he married 
Jeannette Renwick, a daughter of Walter 
Renwick, both of whom were natives of 
Scotland. William Renwick, the paternal 
great-grandfather of our subject, was a na- 
tive of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and was 



also a fanner by occupation. He emigrated 

to America with his familv and in De Kalb 
county, Illinois, engaged in farming, a vo- 
cation at which he continued until his death 
at the age of eighty years. Malcolm Mc- 
Murchy, Sr. , came to De Kalb counly iii 
1850, and located on his farm where our 
subject now resides in 1863, and there died. 
February 14, 1 865, at the age of sixty years. 
The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood on his father's farm and has made farm- 
ing his life work. He received a common- 
school education and by reading and obser- 
vation has since become a well-informed 
man. He has a farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres, the old McMurchy homestead, 
which he has well improved and kept under 
the highest state of cultivation. He is quite 
prominent in his township and for three 
terms served as road commissioner, and in 
the spring of 1 898 was elected supervisor of 
his township. In politics he is a thorough 
Republican and has voted with that part)- 
since attaining his majority. Fraternally 
he is a Mason, holding membership with 
the lodge at Creston. 



JAMES M. ORPUT, wagon-maker and 
tank-builder, Malta, Illinois, was the 
first man to transact business in the village 
and one of its first settlers, building the 
first house in Malta in September, 1856. 
He is a native of Homer township, Loraine 
county, Ohio, born December 8, 1824, and 
is the son of Richard and Reliefie (Hatch) 
Orput, the former a native of Virginia and 
the latter of New York. They removed to 
Illinois in 1837, arriving' in De Kalb county 
October 8 and stopping over night on the 
prairie between what is now Sycamore and 
South Grove. Thev lost the trail and dark- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



28; 



ness set in and were obliged to wait for the 
coming day. In their company was a man 
who had been there the year previous, and 
when dayhght came he recognized Orput 
Grove a short distance away, it having been 
purchased the previous year by Mr. Orput 
but had not been occupied. With his fam- 
ily he settled at Orput Grove, but two years 
later returned to Ohio, for the benefit of his 
health and there died about 1840. His 
family remained at the Grove until 1850 
when the sons began to separate and pro- 
vide for themselves. 

On leaving home our subject learned the 
wheelwright and carpenter's trade, and in 
1852 he married Miss Almira Krill, a daugh- 
ter of James and Susan Krill, by whom he 
had three children, Charles, Frank and 
Nelson. In the spring of 1856 he removed 
to Malta and engaged in the grain business. 
At this time he was the owner of eight hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land in I)e Kalb 
county, some of which he worked in addi- 
tion to carrying on the grain business. 
About this time his wife became seriously 
ill with an incurable malady which was a 
heavy expense to him. In i S60 his three 
children were stricken and died, two of 
them, Charles and Frank, within nine davs 
of each other, while Nelson died si.\ months 
months previousl}'. His wife followed 
December 28, 1861, aged twenty-six j'ears. 

While engaged in the grain business the 
Civil war broke out, causing a depreciation 
in value, by which .Vlr. Orput lost some 
twenty-two thousand dollars. This loss, 
combined with the loss of his family, and 
the expense necessarily attached to it, caused 
him to fail financially, but he yet remained 
an honest man. His large tract of land 
was sold to meet the demands of creditors. 
He continued, however, in the grain busmess, 



buying and selling, and trying in every w-ay 
to earn an honest dollar. 

In 1863 Mr. Orput married Miss Maria 
Rogers, who was born in 1840 and the 
daughter of Richard Rogers, and to them 
three children were born, James M., 
Kittie and Grace. In 1876 James M.. 
and Kittie, died within three months of 
each other. In February, 1880, Mrs. Maria 
Orput died and in May, 1888, Mr. Orput 
married Mrs. Elizabeth Trowbridge, widow 
of Charles Trowbridge. 

Mr. Orput continued in the grain busi- 
ness until 1870, since which time he has been 
engaged in his present line. He is of an 
inventive turn of mind and in\ented a har- 
vesting machine which he secured by letters 
patent in 1859. In 1872 he patented an 
ecjualizer on a wagon, which he improved 
one year later. In 1S79 he invented an- 
other equalizer, in no way related to the 
first, both of which proved practical. In 
1884 he patented a road scraper. He is 
also the inventor of many other devices 
which are both no\el and useful. He owns 
his own workshop and the dwelling in which 
he lives. No man is held in higher esteem 
by his fellow citizens, and notwithstanding 
his reverses he looks young at the age of 
seventy-four years. 



GEORGE H. STANLEY, who after 
years of arduous labor upon the farm 
is now living retired in the village of Genoa, 
was born in the town of Smyrna, Chenango 
county. New 'S'ork, .August 29, 1S29. His 
father. Dyer D. Stanley, was born in Os- 
wego county, New York, August 3, 1805. 
He was a farmer all his life, and in 1845 
emigrated to Illinois, and later retired from 
active work, making his home with our sub- 



286 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ject, until his death, March 9, 1890, in his 
eighty-fifth year. He was the son of Dyer 
D. Stanley, St., who married a Miss Haw- 
ley, from Cherry Valley, New 'S'ork. The 
Staideys are of Puritan origin, the first of 
the name coming over in the Mayflower. 
Dyer D. Stanley, the father of our subject, 
married Belinda Pease, a native of Enfield, 
Hartford county, Connecticut, born August 
13, 1807, and who died at our subject's 
home in Genoa, [anuary 31, 1.SS7. When 
quite young, her parents moved to Madison 
count\'. New York, where she grew to 
womanhood. She was the daughter of Jesse 
and Abigail (Larned) Pease, both of Holland, 
descent. Her mother died in March, 1S57. 
To Dyer D. and Belinda Stanley eight 
children were born as follows: Mrs. Melissa 
Henry, living in Carroll county, Missouri; 
George H., our subject; Leroy j., living in 
Antelope county, Nebraska; Thomas, of 
Topeka, Kansas; Mrs. Abigail White, of 
.•\ntelope county, Nebraska; Newton H., 
who was killed in the battle of Little Blue, 
October 2 1 , 1S64; and \\'illis Jemay, "hu 
died in infancy. 

In his native town, Mr. Stanley lived 
until the age of sixteen years, in the mean- 
time attending the subscription schools, in 
which the teacher boarded around. In 
1845, he came west with the family, by 
canal to Buffalo, and by boat to Southport, 
driving from there to Belvidere, locating on 
a farm of two hundred and forty acres, in 
Spring township, Boone countj-. With his 
father he remained until of age, when he 
commenced learning the carpenter's trade, 
an occupation which he followed for some 
years. He began fanning on rented land, 
in Boone county, and he continued to rent 
for six years. He then purchased a farm 
in McHenry county, consisting of two hun- 



dred acres, to which he later added one 
hundred and sixty acres, giving him as fine 
a farm as any^ in Riley township. On the 
first farm, he built the house, barns and 
other outbuildings, but on the second farm 
the buildings were already erected. Both 
farms are well drained, with main- rods of 
tiling, and every acre is under a high state 
of cultivation. While actively engaged in 
larming, he dmoted himself principall}' to 
raising grain and stock, but for some years 
was engaged in dairying, keeping about 
sixt)' head of nulch cows. 

Mr. Stanley was married May 31, 1857. 
in Tiskilwa, Illinois, to Miss Mary A. Fall, 
born near Chesterfield, Morgan county, 
Ohio, and a daughter of Moses Fall, a na- 



tive of Maine, born Maj- 30, 1797 



Ht 



moved to Ohio with his parents when a boy 
and died there. The family later moved to 
Peoria county. He was the son of .\aron 
Fall, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, 
who saw seven years of hard service and 
was at the fall of Quebec. Aaron I'all mar- 
ried Sallie Bickford, a natise of Maine, 
who died when about sixty years old, her 
husband being eighty-nine years old at his 
death. For a time they lived in what is 
now West Virginia, and then mo\ed to 
Ohio, where they both died. Moses Fall 
married Eliza Briggs, born in Massachu- 
setts on the South Coast, near Long Island. 
She was a daughter of Stephen Briggs, of 
English descent, who married Zelpha .Att- 
wood, a native of New England. To Moses 
and Eliza Falls seven children were born, 
three of whom are yet living — Mrs. Lucy 
Bartlett, of Sheffield, Illinois, Mrs. Sarah 
Lackey, of Stark coimty, Illinois, and Mrs. 
Stanley. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Stanley one son was 
born, Harvey Newton, born in Spring town- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



!87 



ship, Boone county, Illinois, September :;3, 
1S64. After attending the schools of Mc- 
Henry county, he entered the high school 
of Genoa, from which he was graduated. 
For several years he engaged in teach- 
ing, and then entered the State Normal 
School at Normal, Illinois, where he spent 
one year and a half, after which he again 
engaged in teaching. In the spring of 1889 
he commenced farming in Riley township 
on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
where he still continues to reside. He was 
married in Genoa in November, 1888, to 
Miss Jennie Perkins, a daughter of H. A. 
Perkins of Genoa, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this work. Four children 
have been born to them, of whom Henry, 
the first born, is now deceased. The living 
are Frank, Howard and Harry. 

In the spring of '1884, Mr. Stanley re- 
tired from active farming, removed to Ge- 
noa, and has since been taking life easy. 
At various times in his life he has been 
something of a traveler. He has found 
work for a time at various employments in 
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and in fact 
every state touched by the Mississippi riv- 
er. He has worked in the pineries and has 
rafted lumber. He spent one year in 
Louisiana and Mississippi working at his 
trade. In 1859 he made a trip overland to 
Colorado. In politics he is a Prcjhibitionist 
and has held nearly all of the minor town- 
ship offices. Religiously he and his fam- 
ily are connected with the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. Few men have more warm 
friends than the subject of this sketch. 



lOHN H. LARSON, a native of La 
<J Salle county, Illinois, born February 
14, 1847, now resides on section 3, Paw' 



Paw township, De Kalb county, his farms 
consisting of five hundred and twenty acres, 
all of which is under cultivation and highly 
improved. His father, Lars Larson, was a 
nati\e of Norway, and who there spent his 
boyhood and youth, coming to the United 
States a young man. He first located in 
New York, where he remained a short time, 
and then came west to La Salle county, 
Illinois, where he made a permanent loca- 
tion. He married in La Salle county Miss 
Caroline Hulverson, a native of Norway, 
who there grew to womanhood, and who 
came to this country with her mother and 
step-father. On locating in La Salle coun- 
ty Mr. Larson purchased one hundred and 
forty acres of land, and later bought thirty 
acres of timber. His first house was a 
little log shanty, ten by twelve feet, in 
which he lived while making his first im- 
provements on the place. The farm under 
his management became a well-cultivated 
place, and he there lived, dying in 1850. 
He was one of the honored pioneers of the 
county. His wife survived him many years, 
dying in 1888, at the age of eighty-four 
years. They were the parents of two sons 
and one daughter: Martha, Oliver and 
John H. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in La Salle county, and as the oppor- 
tunity was afforded him attended the com- 
mon schools. He remained with his mother 
until twenty years of age, with the e.Kcep- 
tion of five years just after the mother's sec- 
ond marriage. Arriving at mature years, 
he bought a tract of seventy acres, which 
was partially improved, and there farmed 
for nine years. He then purchased one 
hundred and fifty-six acres on section 3, 
Paw Paw township, comprising part of his 
present farm. The farm was an improved 



288 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



one, but he has greatly added to its value 
and appearance by the erection of a number 
of outbuildings, wind-pump, and well tiling 
the place. In 1S78 he purchased sixt)- 
acres adjoining. Frtjm time to time he add- 
ed to his possessions until he now has fi\e 
hundred and twenty acres of well -improved 
land, which brings him in -uinually a goodly 
income. 

On the >Sth of Januar\, iSf)S, in Dodge 
county, Minnesota, Mr. Larson was united 
in marriage with Miss Sarah Stevenson, a 
nati\e of Illinois, born in La Salle county, 
and a daughter of Sjur Stevenson, a native 
of Norway and a pioneer of F^a Salle county. 
Bj' this union there were seven children, 
one of whom died in infancs . The living 
are Edwin, Frank, .Albert, Nellie, Emma 
and John. 

Politically Mr. Larson is a lifelong Re- 
publican, casting his first presidential vote 
for General Grant in 1868. He has served 
six years as commissioner of highways, and 
for twenty years was a member of the 
school board. He and his wife are attend- 
ants of the Lutheran church, in which faith 
they were both reared. They are well- 
known and highly-respected citizens of De 
Kalb county, where the greater part <jf their 
lives has been spent. 



JOHN D. McCLELLAND. liveryman, 
whose place of business is on Fourth 
street, De Kalb, Illinois, has one of the best 
equipped establishments in the city. His 
stables are clean, well lighted, with thorough 
ventilation, and in every way comfortable. 
He was born June 8, 1847, in Kane county, 
Illinois, and is the son of George W. and 
Jane H. (Walker) McClelland, both natives 
of Erie, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, 



the former born March 16, 1822, and the 
latter November 7, 1824. 

George W. McClelland was a prosperous 
farmer, and removed from Erie, Pennsyl- 
\ania, to Illinois, arriving in Kane county 
No\ember 28, 1843, the same year in uhich 
he was married, and for a short time resided 
at Burlington, Illinois. In i 857 he removed 
with his family to Kingston, De Kalb count}', 
where he purchased a farm of our hundred 
acres, eighty acres of which was in praiiic 
and the remainder in timber. This place 
he improved, erecting on it suitable build- 
ings and placing it under a high state of 
culti\ation. His death was the result of an 
accident. He was kicked by a horse and 
died August 12, 1873. His widow and four 
out of a family of five children survi\e hun. 
Their names are John D., Sarah J., McCol- 
lom, Tina A. and George A. Fraternally, 
he was a member of the Masonic order and 
by that order his funeral services were con- 
ducted. He was a man held in high esteem 
by all who knew him, respected for his in- 
trinsic worth, a loving father, an affectionate 
husband and a loyal citizen. 

John D. McClelland, our subject, was 
reared and educated in Kingston township, 
alternating between the farm and the school 
room until he reached his majority. He 
lived at home until about 1876, when he 
turned his attention to \arious [Mirsuits, 
which he followed for about ten years. In 
1886 he removed to Dc Kalb, where he en- 
gaged in the livery business, forming a part- 
nership with George Holmes, whose interest 
he purchased the same year. Soon after, 
however, he formed a partnership with M. 
Hanrahan and in 1888 sold his interest to Mr. 
Hanrahan. Later he and his brother George 
purchased the interest of Orlando Carter in 
his livery business on Third street, where 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



!89 



they continued four years with marked suc- 
cess. At the expiration of this time he pur- 
chased his brother's interest and continued 
the business alone in that location for one 
year. He then purchased a hjt on Fourth 
street, on which he erected suitable barns 
to accommodate his rapidly increasing busi- 
ness. 

On the 7th of December, 1S94, Mr. Mc- 
Clelland was united in marriage with Miss 
MoUie Starks, a daugliter of James and Sarah 
Starks. They have now one child. Reed, 
born December 11, 1S97. Politically Mr. 
McClelland is a Republican and fraternally a 
member of the Knights of Pythias. He is 
an excellent judge of horses, and has some 
of the finest and most stylish rigs to be 
found in the city. He is a genial and court- 
eous gentleman, who always endeavors to 
please and is thoroughly acquainted with his 
business. 



WILLIAM H. KEENE, who resides on 
section 4, Victor township, but who 
is practically living a retired life, came to 
De Kalb county in the spring of 1849. He 
was born March 4, 1820, in Esperance, 
Schoharie counts, New York, and is the 
son of Bartholomew Keene, a native of 
(iilderland. New York, who was a nail- 
maker by trade, but who followed the occu- 
pation of farming for a short time, and who 
for a period of eighteen years and four 
months kept the toll bridge across the 
Schoharie river at Esperance. Bartholo- 
mew Keene was married three times, his 
first wife living but a short time. He then 
married Fanny Van Schoover, who was the 
mother of our subject, and after her death 
he married Esther Slingcrland. Bartholo- 
inew Keene came west m the winter of 



1S43, coming through Canada and Chicago 
to the Fox river in Kane county. There 
our subject rented a farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres, on which he lived until the 
fall of 1S48. He is the only survivor of a 
family of nine children. 

In his native state, William H. Keene 
grew to manhood and on the 17th of Octo- 
ber, 1848, was united in marriage with Miss 
Emily Pulver, a native of Gilderland, New 
York, and a daughter of Richard and Katie 
Pulver. Immediately after marriage, he 
brought his bride to De Kalb county and 
purchased forty-six acres of wild land in 
Victor township, and also a claim right of 
one hundred and sixty acres, which he later 
entered. He now has a valuable farm of 
two hundred and eighty acres, which he has 
well improved, ha\'ing an excellent dwell- 
ing, two large barns, various other out- 
buildings, and is surrounded with a fine 
smooth wire fence, and well drained. 

Mr. and Mrs. Keene are the parents of 
eight children, as follows: Marcus, deceased; 
Julia, who married S. L. Brewer, a 
farmer li"ing in Kansas, is now deceased; 
Martha, residing at home, and acting as 
housekeeper for her father; George M., a 
farmer, who married Malinda Merritt, and is 
li\'ing in Victor township; Nancy, who mar- 
ried Jonathan Davis, a farmer of Victor 
township; Lewis Adelbert, living at home 
and operating the home farm; Laura, who 
married C. Clifford, v.'ho is engaged in the 
butcher business in Leland; and Louis, 
who is now deceased. 

Mr. Keene for many years has been a 
raiser of shorthorn cattle, and has now some 
of the finest in the state. He is also en- 
gaged in raising Berkshire hogs and Shrop- 
shire sheep. He generally ships his own 
stock, and in this business has been quite 



2go 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



successful. Politically, he is a Democrat, 
and has served his township in various local 
offices. For about eight years he served as 
road commissioner, and was school trustee 
for a number of \ears. He has also served 
as supervisor of his township, and during one 
term of the circuit court was foreman of the 
grand jury. A strong temperance man, he 
has been identified with the Good Templars 
for some years. 

.\fter a happ>' wedded life of nearly fifty 
\'ears, Mrs. Keene was called to her reward 
|une 28, 1898. She was a woman of excel- 
lent character, a loving wife and an affec- 
tionate mother, a good neighbor and a 
friend to all. Her death was sincerely 
mourned, not alone by the family but by 
many friends in De Kalb and La Salle coun- 
ties. As already stated, Mr. Iveene is living 
practically a retired life. He has done his 
work well, aiding in developing the count}- 
and state, and where known is held in high 
esteem. 



CLARK L. BARBER, deceased, was 
one of the pioneers of De Kalb coun- 
ty and a man well known throughout its 
length and breadth. He was born in the 
town of Pike, Wyoming county. New York, 
June 29, 1 8 14. His parents, Lexi C. and 
Sallie (Rood) Barber, were natives of \'er- 
mont, who, as pioneers, settled in Pike 
township in 1811. Levi C. Barber bought 
land of the Holland Purchase Company 
four miles east of Pike Hollow, but in the 
wilderness. Here he erected a log house, 
in which our subject was born, cleared a 
farm and made considerable advancement 
toward the establishment of a comfortable 
home, but in Februarj-, 1835, started for 
the Prairie state with horses and sleigh. 



Arriving in De Kalb county, he took a 
claim on section 15, of what is now De 
Kalb township. He was accompanied by 
his two eldest sons, Lyman and Henry, 
who also took claims, and afterwards en- 
tered entered the land when the Govern- 
ment had surveyed it and placed it on the 
market. This was their home until the 
death of the father, which occurred in 1859. 
He was a stirring man, full of energy and 
enterprise, and for several years served as 
sheriff of Allegany county. New York. He 
was twice married, and by his first wife his 
children were Lyman, Harry, Clark L., 
Amelia, Pollie and Adelia. The first four 
are now deceased. .Amelia is the wife of 
Lunian Huntley, of Di.xon, Illinois. His 
second wife was Mrs. Hannah Brownwell, 
by whom he had three children. Adelia is 
the wife of Franklin Burr, of Lincoln, Ne- 
braska, whose son, Charles C, was a mem- 
ber of the Nebraska state senate. \\'. B. 
is now a resident of De Kalb. Laura E., 
the wife of Clark Carter, is now deceased. 
Clark L. liarber, the subject of this 
sketch, grew to manhood in his native town, 
being reared to farm life. In 1836, accom- 
panied b}' two sisters, he started to meet 
their father in the prairie state. Leaving 
his sisters in Chicago, he made his way on 
foot for that part of Kane county now in- 
cluded in De Kalb, where he met the fa- 
ther. He first made a claim one mile north 
of De Kalb on what is now called Geneva 
lake, but he abandoned it and took one on 
section 15 and iS, in what is now De Kalb 
township. Here he built a log house, hav- 
ing a chimney constructed of sticks and 
mud. making the roof with 'shakes," split 
from oak timber, and the fioor of pun- 
cheon. From this rude beginning he im- 
[n'oved the place to its present fine condi- 




C. L. BARBER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RP:COKD. 



293 



tion, the farm containing two hundred acres. 
In 1883 he sold his original farm and trav- 
eled extensively in Kansas and Nebraska. 
In Chase count}', Nebraska, he purchased a 
farm of four hundred acres, and in the same 
year he bought a large farm in Iroquois 
county, Illinois. 

In May, 1839, Mr. Barber was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary M. Spring, a na- 
tive of New York, born May 5, 1823, and 
the daughter of Samuel and Lament Spring. 
By this union twelve children were born, 
two of whom are now living, Mrs. Jacob 
Crawford, born November \2. 1840; and 
Mrs. Nevvcombe Crawford, born September 
6, 1846. 

Mr. Barber died March 12, 1892. He 
was a man greatly esteemed and filled sev- 
eral ofifices of honor and trust in both town- 
ship and county. For si.x years he was 
deputy sheriff, and for several years was 
assessor of De Kalb township. He was a 
Mason of high integrity and also a member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 



WALTER M. FORWARD, senior mem- 
ber of the firm of Forward & Mc- 
Guire, plumbers of Sycamore, was born at 
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, September 30, 
1855. His father, Reuben H. Forward, 
was a native of Watertown, New York, 
born October 24, 1823, and who moved to 
Canada about 1845, and there on the 30th 
of April, [846, married Miss Margaret 
Spencer, a native of Brighton, Ontario, born 
March 5, 1824, and a daughter of Richard 
and Pauline (Kingsbury) Spencer, both na- 
tives of England. Richard Spencer's mother 
was a Miss Richards, and Pauline Kings- 
bury's mother was a Miss Otis. Richard 
H. and Margaret Forward were the parents 



of five children, three of whom are now liv- 
ing: Imogene, wife of Joseph A. Kemp, of 
Colburn, Canada; James W. and Walter M. 
The father died in 1857 in Ohio while awa}' 
from home on a business trip. The mother 
died in Canada December 2, 1897. 

The subject of this sketch attended 
school in Brighton until seventeen years of 
age, and in his native town commenced 
learning the tinner's trade. In the latter 
part of August, 1872, he went to Beloit, 
^^'isconsin, where he finished his trade. 
On the 6th of July, 1874, he went to Chica- 
go, in time to see the great July fire, and 
there worked in a shop on Madison street 
until November of the same year, when he 
came to Sycamore and worked for Captain 
Whittemore until August of the following 
\ear. Returning to Chicago, he remained 
until April, 1879, with the exception of the 
summer season of 1877, when he was em- 
ployed at South Bend, Indiana. In March, 
1879, he went to Rockford, Illinois, where 
he remained four years and then again came 
to Sycamore, and for four years was with 
Haight Brothers. He began business for 
himself in July, 1887, being the junior mem- 
ber of the firm of Buell & Forward. That 
partnership continued one year, when he 
formed a partnership with Haight Brothers 
under the firm name of W. M. Forward & 
Company, that partnership existing until 
1896. Since January, 1897, he has been 
in partnership with Francis W. McGuire, 
their place of business being on Maple 
street. 

Mr. Forward was married in Sycamore, 
July 10, 1879, to Ida M. Rowley, a native 
of S3'camore, and fifth in a family of seven 
children born to John W. and Louisa T. 
(Beebe) Rowley. Her father was born in 
Belvidere, New Jersey, August 11, 1822, 



294 



THi: BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and came to De Kalb county in 1844, lo- 
cating at Sycamore where he engaged in 
his trade of carpenter and contractor. He 
was a son of Louis and Phebe (Wallace) 
Rowley, the former a native of Amsterdam, 
New York, and the latter of Scotland. 
Lewis Rowley died in 1848 at the age of 
eighty years. Louisa F. Beebe was a na- 
tive of Jefferson connty, New York, and a 
daughter of John Beebe, who was born in 
Connecticut, and who married Sarah Clark, 
a daughter of John Clark, whose wife was 
a Miss Calkins. John Beebe was a son of 
John Beebe, Sr. , who married a Miss Clark. 
John Beebe came west in 1844 and pur- 
chased a farm near Shabbona Grove. 

To our subject and wife four children 
ha\e been born. Edward ]. died at the 
age of fi\e years. Ferd W., Harry and 
Ruth all yet reside at home. In politics 
Mr. Forward is a Republican, while he and 
his wife are members of the Congregational 
church. Fraternally he is a Mason and a 
member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- 
ica, Knights of Pythias, Knights of the 
Maccabees and Knights of the Globe. For 
two vears he served as alderman of his 
ward, and in e\ery relation of life he has 
shown himself an enterprising and thorough- 
going business man. 



DAVID M. GIBBS, for nearly thirty 
years a successful teacher in the pub- 
lic schools of Illinois, but now living a re- 
tired life in the village of Genoa, was born 
near Cooperstown, Otsego county, New- 
York, May 5, 1839. His father, Alanson 
D. Gibbs, was born in Massachusetts, Jan- 
uary 8, 1803, and moved to Otsego county, 
New York, in bo)'hood and there grew to 
manhood and married Sophronia Main, a 



native of the state of New York, born April 
20, 1809, and who died March 20. 1895. 
Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812 
and was in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. 
From New York, later in life, Alanson D. 
Gibbs moved with his family to Illinois and 
purchased a farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres in Kingston township, De Kalb 
county, where his death occurred March 4, 
1885. In early life he was a Democrat, but 
on account of its free soil principles he be- 
came a Republican on the organization of 
that party. Alanson D. and Sophronia 
Gibbs were the parents of seven children. 
Eustacia is now the wife of J. S. Brown, of 
Kingston, Illinois. Dewight lives in Tope- 
ka, Kansas. Benjamin S. lives in Franklin 
township, De Kalb county. David M. is 
the subject of this sketch. Parker T. is 
now living in Boone county, Iowa. Mercy, 
deceased, was the wife of Ozias A. Sperry, 
now of Kansas. Ammi is a carpenter living 
in the village of Kingston, De Kalb county. 
The subject of this sketch came west 
with his parents, reaching Belvidere, Illi- 
nois, May 18, 1845. They drove through 
from Cooperstown to Utica, New York, and 
from there by canal to Buffalo, and the 
lakes to Chicago. From the latter place 
they came by team to Belvidere. The fam- 
ily lived some months near Belvidere, when 
the father bought one hundred and twenty 
acres in Kingston township, De Kalb coun- 
ty. David M. was but six years of age on 
his arrival in De Kalb county, and until 
eighteen years of age attended the district 
school. He was a good student and being 
large for his age secured a school, and from 
the time he was eighteen for some years 
taught school during the winter months in 
De Kalb and I^ioone counties, and worked 
on farms during the summer months. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



295 



Mr. Gibbs was married January i, 1861, 
in Belvidere, Illinois, to Julia Ann Slater, 
born in Bainbridge, Chenango county, New 
York, June 6, 1842, and a daughter of Jos- 
eph and Sallie (Silviusj Slater. The latter 
was born near Bethlehem, Northampton 
county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of 
Henry Silvius, who married a Miss Schriv- 
er. Joseph Slater was born in \'ermont, in 
181 I, and died in 1847. When a child, he 
removed from Massachusetts to \N"ashington 
county. New York, and later moved west- 
ward to Chenango county, where his death 
occurred. His widow later married U. S. 
Hollembeak. and removed with him to 
Boone county. Illinois, in 1852, where the 
family was reared and principally educated. 
Joseph Slater was a son of Israel Slater, 
one of the Green Mountain boys that were 
in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. B)- 
trade Joseph Slater was a shoemaker, but 
also acquired a knowledge of several hand- 
icrafts, being an e.xpert mill-wright. It was 
while erecting a mill in Pennsylvania, that 
he met and married Sallie Salvius. His sons 
were also ingenious, and of an inventive turn 
of mind Oscar, a cooper by trade, invent- 
ed and manufactured man}' of the tools 
used in his trade, which enabled him to turn 
out much more work than other workmen. 
Joseph and Sallie Slater were the parents of 
six children. Lydia, deceased, married 
William Axtell of Hamilton, Delaware coun- 
ty. New York. Almon died at the age of 
eleven years. Louisa married Seth Blood, 
and lives at Park Rapids, Iowa. Oscar is 
deceased, fulia A. is the wife of our sub- 
ject. One, an infant, died unnamed. 

In the spring following his marriage, 
Mr. Gibbs rented a farm, and for three 
years engaged in farming during the spring 
and summer seasons, and in winter was en- 



gaged in teaching. In the fall of 1864, he 
enlisted at Marengo, Illinois, in the Thir- 
tieth Illinois Volunteer Infantr\-, joiningthe 
regiment in time to be with Sherman on the 
march to the sea, and in the grand review 
at Washington. He was discharged and 
mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, in 
July, 1S65. 

Returning home, Mr. ("iibbs continued 
farming and teaching until 1867, when he 
and his wife entered the State Normal 
School, at Normal, Illinois, taking a three 
years' course. On graduating from that in- 
stitution, both were secured to teach at 
Rosamond, Christian county, Illinois, and 
gave such excellent satisfaction to an intel- 
lectual and discriminating community, that 
the}- were retained seven years and might 
have remained longer. In 1877 they came 
to Genoa and took charge of the schools, 
and thoroughly graded the same, and there 
remained for eight years. Patrons were 
loth to lose their services, but constant and 
conscientious work made a rest necessary. 
For two years Mr. Gibbs conducted a dairj- 
farm, on a tract of fifty acres, which he owns 
adjoining the village of Genoa, after which 
they taught two years in the Kirkland 
schools. They were again prevailed upon 
to accept the Genoa schools, but after three 
years retired permanently from the profes- 
sion, which they had adorned for more than 
twenty years. They have a loving regard 
for all who have gone out from under their 
instruction, most of their graduates now fill- 
ing positions of honor and trust. Among 
the number are judges, lawyers, teachers, 
electricians, bookkeepers, bankers and man- 
agers of various institutions. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs are natural-born 
teachers, both beginning at an early age. 
After their marriage the}- taught twenty 



296 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



years together in the same school, and now 
retired from active work they are taking hfe 
easy. Both are fond of music and books, 
in which they take great delight. They own 
four acres in the village, on which is a small 
fruit garden where man}- choice varieties of 
fruit are cultivated. They yet retain their 
dairy farm of fifty acres, on the northern 
line oi the village, which is occupied by a 
tenant. They are both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. 
Gibbs is a local preacher of marked ability, 
often supplying vacant pulpits. Politically 
he is a Prohibitionist, though often voting 
the Republican ticket. 



CHARLES H. SALISBURY is the con- 
fidential secretary and managing ac- 
countant of Jacob Haish. The real bene- 
factors of our race, and the renowned in 
history, are too often distinct and separate 
characters. The pen of the historian and 
biographer loved to delineate bold and 
striking features, to dwell upon startling in- 
cidents born of the passions and impulses 
of men, leaving unchronicled those nobler 
deeds that spring from the noblest ele- 
ments of true human greatness. The hero 
of a hundred battlefields may furnish vol- 
umes for history, and his eager biographer 
gathers the material and erects to his mem- 
ory a pyramid, \vhile noble and honorable 
men, who faithfully and well perform their 
duties, often fail to secure a conspicuous 
niche in the temple of fame. It is there- 
fore no less a duty than a privilege, when 
one has honored his calling, commanded 
the esteem and admiration of his friends 
and the respect of his enemies, to pay at 
least some tribute of respect in recording a 
few simple facts. 



The subject of this biography was born 
at Barton, Vermont, July 23, 184 1, and is 
the son of Henr\' and Caroline M. (Butler) 
Salisbury, both of English parentage. In 
1856. when but fifteen years of age, our sub- 
ject removed from the east to White Rock, 
Ogle county, Illinois, where he made a stay 
of a few months, and in the fall of the same 
year came to De Kalb count}', Illinois, his 
time being spent alternately on the farm, in 
the store and in the school room. In 1859, 
he completed his course at Professor 
Webb's Academy, but subsequently attended 
various institutions of learning, which fitted 
him for a larger field of usefulness. 

When Jacob Haish first con nienced 
business in De Kalb he employed Mr. Salis- 
bury, who remained with him until the 
winter opening of school. In the spring of 
1 86 1, he was appointed assistant postmaster 
under Ira ^^ Randall, and served until 
August 6, 1862, when his nation's call was 
heard, and he offered his services to his 
country. On that date he was enrolled as 
a member of Company K, One Hundred 
and Fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, and was inmiediately appointed first 
sergeant of his company. For nearly three 
years he served his country, and partici- 
pated in the battles fought from Chatta- 
nooga to Atlanta, and was in the celebrated 
march to the sea and from Savannah to 
Raleigh, North Carolina, where the main 
body of Sherman's army was encamped 
when peace was declared. He was never 
absent a day from the company, except on 
special duty. At frequent intervals he com- 
manded the company in important engage- 
ments, and was in full command during the 
march to the sea, and through the Caro- 
linas. For meritorious services, he was 
breveted lieutenant. He was honorably 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



297 



discharged at Chicago, Illinois, June/, 1865. which were often accompanied by cartoons, 

after faithfully serving in one of the severest created great interest throughout the coun- 

contests known to history. try and brought the Haish barb wire into 

On receiving his discharge, Mr. Sails- considerable prominence. Many were the 



bury returned to De Kalb, and in the win- 
ter of 1S65-6 he engaged with Mr. Haish, 
who at that time was a lumber dealer, con- 
tractor and builder. From that time to the 
present, by his urbane deportment, his 
familiar, yet respectful address and gentle- 



conjectures made as to who was the writer 
of the rhyuies and the draughtsman of the 
cartoons, and to this day few people know 
who was the author. 

On the 1st of May, 1876, Mr. Salisbury 
was united in marriage with Miss Laura M., 



manly courtesy, he has proved himself an a native of Vermont, and a daughter of Oli- 
indispensable factor to his employer. To ver and Lamirii Wilder. F"raternally he 
his tact, practical e.xperience and business is a Mason and has attained the Knight 
capacity may be attributed the clock-work Templar degree. 

accuracy with which the Haish Manufac- Probably at no other vocation in life are 

turing Company's business has been carried the sterling qualities of character, the per- 
to its present proportions. During the long severance and stability of purpose ami 
and fiery litigation through which the Haish clearness and perception of mind called into 
Manufacturing Company passed the pen and requisition than the one which Mr. Salis- 
pencil of our subject were frequently' bury has tilled and is now filling. At an 
brought into requisition for advertising pur- early age he was cast upon his own re- 
poses. In the draughting of cartoons and sources, but with willing hands and active 
in his readiness to dash off burlesque poetry, lirain, with the future illumed with hope, 
he has had few superiors. The fight be- and undaunted by the difficulties which 
tween the different barb wire manufacturers beset every ) oung man on the threshold of 
was very intense, and every effort was made life, he resolved upon making life a success, 
by each to push his wire to the front. In By virtue of those inherent and intrinsic 
one of his advertisements Mr. Salisbury qualities which are in his nature and that 

are wholly incompatible with failure, he has 
gained his present position and enjoys the 
full confidence of his employer and the 
respect of his fellowmen. 



says : 

" Well, pL-rhaps ymi may be dreaming, 

Perhaps you're in a whirl ; 
Yet somehow Haish's fence is winning 

The |ilaudits of the world." 

Some of the opponents of Mr. Haish 
tried to have a little fun at his e.xpense, be- 
cause of the fact that he was a "Dutch- 
man." In reply to this Mr. Salisbury 
writes : 

" The June bug has gaudy wings. 

The lightning liug has fame ; 
The ' Dutchman ' has no wings at ali 

But he gets there just the same." 

These rhvmes, written bv Mr. Salisbnr\, 



WILLIAM 
farmer. 



[LLIAM R. MOON is a well-known 
ler, residing in Franklin township, 
on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, 
which is always kept under the highest state 
of cultivation. He is a native of the town- 
ship, born on the farm where he now re- 
sides, December 26, 1852, and is the son of 
Thomas and Ellen Moon, both nati\-es of 



ipS 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



England, and the parents of tive children, 
James, John, Ann, Thomas and William. 
Our subject also has one half brother, Ed- 
ward Gardner, and two half sisters, Ellen 
and Jane Moon . In his native land Thomas 
Moon learned the carpenter's trade, bnt, to 
his mind, the opportunities for advance- 
ment were slim, indeed. The possibilities 
of the new world were open before him, and 
he felt that in this new country he could do 
better for himself and family, and therefore, 
in 1850, set sail tor New York, from which 
place he came direct to De I\alb county, 
Illinois, and purchased one hundred and 
sixty acres of government land, where his 
son now lives. He at once went to work 
for the improvement of the place, and in 
due time his farm was such as to compare 
favorably with those of his neighbors sur- 
rounding him. He continued to work faith- 
fully upon that farm until death claimed 
him at the age of fifty-eight years. 

On the old home farm, where he was 
born, our subject grew to manhood, and 
when old enough to follow the plow or 
handle the hoe he was given his task of farm 
labor. In the neighborhood schools he ob- 
tained his education, attending principally 
in the winter months or as the opportunity 
was afforded him. On the 29th of Novem- 
ber, 1880, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Lila R. Johnson, a native of De Kalb 
county, and by this union there are two chil- 
dren, Lavun and Lula, both of whom are 
under the parental roof and students in 
the public schools. In politics Mr. Moon 
is a Republican, with which part}- he has 
been identified since attaining his majority. 
While he does not give as much of his time 
to the party as some others, he yet has at 
heart its best interests, believing its prin- 
ciples are for the public good. For some 



years he has been a school director, and 
has endeavored to discharge its duties faith- 
fully. Fraternally he is a member of the 
I\nights of the Globe. As a farmer he is 
practical, yet ever ready to adopt any meas- 
ure that will tend to improve his place. As 
a citizen, he is held in the highest esteem, 
and has many friends in De Kalb and ad- 
ininiiiL; counties. 



NATHAN S. RICHARDS has been a 
resident of Sycamore since 1855. He 
was born in the town of Marcy, Oneida 
county, New York, September 18, 1828. 
He is of Welch parentage, and is the son of 
Richard and Alice (Owens) Richards, both 
of whom were natives of Wales. The for- 
mer, who was born about 1805, came to 
.America with his parents when about eight 
years old. His entire life was spent on the 
farm, and his death occurred in New York, 
in 1892. His father, William Richards, 
located on a farm in New York, where he 
died at an advanced age. His wife came 
to America when she was but a year old. 

The subject of this sketch attended the 
district schools as the opportunity was 
afforded him until the age of fourteen years. 
He worked on his father's farm until seven- 
teen years old, when he went to \\'aterville, 
New York, to learn the blacksmith's trade, 
and there remained about si.x years. In 
1851 he came west, and located in Chicago, 
where he worked one year, going from 
thence to Jackson, Michigan, where for some 
time he was an instructor in the blacksmith 
shops of the penitentiary at that place. He 
next went to Aurora, Illinois, remained 
there a few months, and then went to Hunt- 
ley. McHenry county, and was there for 
one vear. In 1855 he remo\ed to S\'ca- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



299 



more, and worked about eighteen years in 
his first shops, located near where his pres- 
ent shop stands. He built his present large, 
three-story shop in 1872, and at first en- 
gaged in the manufacture of wagons, bug- 
gies and sleighs, and various farm imple- 
ments. In later years factory products have 
displaced shop work, so that most of histime 
is now spent in repair work, horseshoeing, 
etc. 

In 1S54, at St. Charles, Illinois, Mr. 
Richards was united in marriage with Miss 
Ruth Baxter, a native of New York, and a 
daughter of EHhu Baxter. She died in 
1896, at the age of sixty-eight years, leav- 
ing three children, Mary, Lydia and Charles. 
The first named married Elzy Ferguson, a 
farmer of Mayfield township, by whom she 
has had four children, three yet living. 
Lydia married Leonard Pierce, a farmer of 
Cortland township, and they have two chil- 
dren. Charles is a good practical black- 
smith, having his forge in Mayfield town- 
ship. Religiously, Mr. Richards is a Con- 
gregationalist and in politics, a Republican. 
Fraternally, he is a Mason of forty years 
standing. 



FRANCIS WILLIAM McGUIRE, junior 
member of the firm of Forward A. 
McGuire, plumbers of Sycamore, was born 
in Beloit, Wisconsin, August i, 1861, and 
is second in a family of seven children born 
to Edwin and Johanna (Kane) McGuire. 
The former was born in Canada, January, 
1836, and is now engaged in business in 
Rockford, Illinois. The latter was born in 
Ireland in 1839, and came to America with 
her parents in 1845. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in his native cit\', and attended the 



grammar and high schools of Beloit, until 
the age of eighteen years, when he com- 
menced learning the tinner's trade in his 
father's shop. After completing his trade 
he remained with his father until the age of 
twenty-three years, at which time he went 
to Omaha, Nebraska, where he continued 
to work at his trade fcjr four years. In 
1892, he went to Rockford, Illinois, and 
there remained four years, coming to Syca- 
more in 1 8g(') and working at journeyman 
work from April, 1896, till January, 1897, 
when he formed a partnership with W. M. 
Forward, in a general plumbing and tinning 
business, sheet metal work, etc. 

Mr. McGuire was married in Beloit, 
Wisconsin, October 15, 1887, to Miss 
Louise Beiiner, a native of New Munster, 
Wisconsin, and a daughter of Rudolph and 
Christina (Elfers) Beimer, both of whom 
were natives of Burgsteinford, Gern.any. 
The latter died in 1873, at the age of forty- 
five years, and the former in 1881, at the 
age of sixty-seven years. They were the 
parents of twelve children, of whom Mrs. 
McGuire was tenth in order of birth. By 
occupation he was a farmer, and a hard- 
working, honest man. To our subject and 
wife four children have been born — Jessie, 
Leslie, Joseph and Clifton. 

In politics Mr. McGuire is an independ- 
ent Republican, voting the party ticket on 
all national issues, but exercising his right 
to vote for the best man regardless of party 
in local issues. Fraternally he is a member 
of the Modern Woodmen of America and 
Knights of the Maccabees, while Mrs. Mc- 
Guire is a member of the Daughters of the 
Globe. Both are highly esteemed, and 
although they have been residents of Syca- 
more but a short time, they have made 
many warm friends. 



jOO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



JOSEPH F. GLIDDEN.— Often do we 
hear it said of those who have attained 
distinguished honors by reason of a well spent 
and successful life that they were men who 
rose to eminence through adventitious cir- 
cumstances, and yet to such carping criti- 
cism and lack of appreciation there needs be 
made but the one statement that fortunate 
environments encompass nearly e\ery man 
at some stage in his career, but the strong 
man and the successful man is he who real- 
izes that the proper moment has come, that 
the present and not the future holds hisop- 
]:)ortunit\'. The man who makes use of the 
Now and not the To Be is the one who 
passes on the high way of life others who 
started out ahead of him and reaches the 
goal of prosperity far in advance of them. 
It is this quality in Mr. Gli Iden that has 
made him a leader in the business world 
and won him a nauie in connection with 
the industrial interests of the country that 
is known throughout the United States. 

The salient points in his life history are 
as follows; He was born January i8, 1813, 
in Charleston, Sullivan county. New Hamp- 
shire, his parents being David and Polly 
(Hurd) Glidden, also natives of that state. 
During the infancy of our subject they re- 
mo\ed to a farm in Orleans county, New 
York, where they remained until 1844, when 
they emigrated westward. After a short resi- 
dence in Ogle county, Illinois, they came to 
to DeKalb county, spending the rest of their 
days in the home of their son, Joseph F. , 
who rewarded them for their care of him in 
boyhood by untiring devotion to their com- 
forts and needs. 

On the home farm in New York our sub- 
ject was reared and his ample training in 
the fields through the summer months was 
supplemented by mental traimng in the 



school room <lnring the winter season. He 
also studied algebra and the classics in addi- 
tion to the common English branches, hop- 
ing to pursue a collegiate course, but that 
plan was finally abandoned. He, however, 
studied for a time in Middlebury Academ}', 
in Genesee county, and in the seminary at 
Lima, New 'S'ork. After teaching school 
for some time he returned to farming as a 
more congenial occupation and operated 
rented land. He had no money to buy, but 
he knew that in the Mississippi valley there, 
stretched acre after acre of broad prairie 
hitherto uncultivated, and with the hope of 
securing a farm of his own he came to Illi- 
nois in the fall of 1842. Leaving the Em- 
pire state he proceeded to Detroit with two 
threshing machines of primitive construc- 
tion and spent thirty days on the wheat 
(arms of Michigan, operating his threshers 
with the assistance of his brother, Willard, 
and two other men. He subsequently 
shipped his machines to Chicago and then 
to De Kalb county, where he followed 
threshing two years. In the winter after 
his arrival he purchased six hundred acres 
of land on section 22, De Kalb township, a 
mile west of the village, and ati once began 
to develop and improve it. He still owns 
that property which he has made one of the 
finest farms in Illinois, its boundaries hav- 
ing been extended until it comprises more 
than eight hundred acres, the greater part 
of which is under a high state of cultivation, 
while substantial buildings and other mod- 
ern accessories indicate the practical and 
progressive spirit of the owner. Other 
lands were purchased by Mr. Glidden as his 
capital has increased and he now owns over 
fifteen hundred acres, wherefrom he derives 
a good income. He has alwaj's been inter- 
ested in the raisinsr of fine stork .ind in con- 




J. F. GLIDDEN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



303 



nection with H. B. Sanborn is the owner of 
a cattle ranch in Texas, where they are 
herding about sixteen thousand head of cat- 
tle. They own two hundred and eighty 
sections of land, covering two hundred and 
eighty square miles of territory and requir- 
ing one hundred and fifty miles of fencing. 
This has now been turned over to his daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Bush, who owns one hundred 
thousand acres. 

But it is in connection with the inven- 
tion of barb wire that Mr. (^lidden is best 
known to the world. His name in that 
connection is widely familar. The lack of 
timber in Illinois made lumber for fencing 
very expensive and how to obtain fencing 
material at a low price was a problem which 
presented itself to many without solution. 
Some attempted to obviate the difficulty 
with only partial success. As early as 
1867 barb wire had been invented, but it 
was imperfect and further study and labor 
were required to make it a marketable com- 
modity. Mr. Glidden was a practical 
agriculturist. His own broad acres re- 
quired fencing and occasioned his study of 
the subject. Careful thought, investigation 
and experiment followed, and October, 1873, 
he applied for a patent, which was granted 
the next spring. He did not here end his 
labors but continued his work of improve- 
ments and tested the utility of his invention 
by the use of his fencing on his own farm. 
The barbs were cut by hand and afterward 
the parts of an old coffee mill were ex- 
temporized as a machine for coiling them 
about the wire. When a piece twenty or 
thirty feet long had been barbed, a smooth 
wire was placed beside it and one pair of 
ends was fastened to a tree and the other 
attached to the axle of a grindstone, which 
by turning with a crank gave it the required 

15 



twist. Having secured his patents Mr. 
Glidden entered into partnership with I. L. 
Ellwood, a hardware merchant of De Kalb 
and a practical man of affairs, who was 
placed in charge of the business manage- 
ment, operations being begun under the 
firm name of Glidden & Ellwood. There 
is no doubt, however, that Mr. Glid- 
den is the inventor of the perfected barb 
wire now in use. He applied for his patent 
in 1873, his claim was acknowledged and he 
secured it. He sold his interest in 1876, 
but continued to draw his royalties until 
1 89 1. He has been the inventor of all 
essential features of barb wire machines now 
in use, and to him is due the great credit 
for bringing to the people of the west a 
cheap and ser\'iceable substitute for the 
stone, rail or wooden fences once in use. 
As time passed the business grew and was 
removed from the farm to the village, where 
a small factory was established, and here 
the improvement was made of using horse 
power to do the twisting, the barbs being 
slipped on to one end of the wire and 
then placed the proper distance apart by 
hand. In 1875 the company built the first 
part of the old brick shop, put in a small 
steam engine, which was made to do the 
twisting, and Mr. Gildden and T. W. 
Vaughn obtained a patent for some devices 
for barbing and spooling that proved of 
efficient aid to the workmen. 

In 1876 Mr. Glidden sold his interest in 
the business to the Washburn & Moen Man- 
ufacturing Company, of Worcester. Mass- 
achusetts, and the effectiveness and utility 
of the new invention having been fully dem- 
onstrated the business increased with aston- 
ishing rapidity. Mr. Glidden has realized 
a fortune from his invention, obtaining a 
large royalty until 1891. Business cares, 



304 



THE BIOGKArHUAL KECOKD. 



however, he has never laid aside. Indolence 
and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, 
and he still devotes many iiours each dav to 
the superintendence of his business interests. 
He is the owner of the De Kalb Roller Mills, 
has been vice-president of the De Kalb Na- 
tional Bank since its organization in 1S83. 
and is the proprietor of the Glidden House, 
making a very genial and popular landlord. 
He has carried forward to successful com- 
pletion all that he has undertaken in the 
business world. His business methods have 
ever commended him to the confidence of 
the public, for he never swerves from the 
strict path of honesty, and his success has 
been won along the lines of unflagging in- 
dustry and enterprise, guided by sound judg- 
ment and careful management. His rela- 
tion with his employees had ever been one 
of friendly interest, and he is quick to rec- 
ognize true worth in a man, no matter how 
huuible his station in life. He is ever will- 
ing to aid the industrious and his industries 
have been such as promote the public pros- 
perity as well as advance individual success. 
His deep interest in public affairs and 
the welfare of the community was shown 
by his liberal donation of sixty-four acres of 
land to the normal school, provided the in- 
stitution was located in De Kalb. This 
land was a part of his old homestead and 
had been entered by him from tlie govern- 
ment when Indians still crossed it with their 
trails. .\t the suggestion of Jacob Haish, 
and in the presence of about one hundred 
and titty citizens. Mr. Glidden broke the 
soil with a lead pencil preparatory to build- 
ing, as this little utensil was considered em- 
blematic of literature and education. He 
has always voted the Democratic ticket and 
is loyal and stanch in suppwrt of the princi- 
ples of his party, on whose ticket he was 



elected county sheriff in iS;^. being the 
last Democratic official of the county. 

Mr. Glidden has been twice married. 
He was married in 1857, in Clarendon. New 
York, to Clarissa Foster, and when he 
started westward he left his wife and two 
children in New York, but both of the latter 
died before Mrs. Glidden came to the west. 
She died in Ogle county, in June, 1S43, and 
a daughter born at that time died in early 
infancy. The children of that marriage 
were ^'irgil, Homer and Clarissa. In Octo- 
ber, i5>5i, in Kane county. Illinois, Mr. 
Glidden wedded Lucinda. daughter of Hen- 
ry W'arne. and they have one daughter, 
Elva Frances, wife of \V. H. Bush, a merchant 
of Chicago. Mrs. Glidden died in 1S95. 
Mr. Glidden is a man of domestic tastes and 
his home has ever been to him the dearest 
spot on earth. The interests of his wife 
and daughter were always paramount with 
him, and frieudship is always inviolable. In 
those tiner traits of character which attract 
and endear man to man in ties of friendship, 
which triumph over misfortune and shine 
brightest in the hour of adversity, in these 
qualities he is ro\ally endowed. Few men 
have more devoted friends than he. and 
none e.xcel him in unselfish devotion and 
unswerving fidelity to the worthy recipients 
of his confidence and friendship. While his 
invention has won him world-wide faine, 
these qualities have gained him the respect 
and warm regard of all whom he has met 
personally and as one of Illinois' most prom- 
inent and worthy citizens he may well be 
numbered. 



GEORGE H. CL.\PS.\DDLE, residing 
on section 24. Paw Paw township, is 
the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



305 



and sixty acres and is numbered among the 
settlers of Ue Kaib county of i^4'j. He 
was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 
the town of Frankfort, March 17, 1821, and 
is the son of George A. Clapsaddle, also a 
native of Herkimer county, born March 31, 
1782, and the grandson of Andrew Clap- 
saddle, of German parentage. The last 
named grew to manhood in Herkimer county 
and there reared his fannly. His son, George 
A., was born on the old homestead and 
there grew to manhood, and in the second 
war with Great Britain served his country 
faithfull_\- and well, and was in the engage- 
ment at Sackett's Harbor. He was married 
in Herkimer county to Nancy Bellinger, also 
a native of Herkimer county and a daughter 
of Esquire Bellinger, who was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war. A brother of Gecrge 
A. Clapsaddle was also a soldier in the war 
of I Si 2 and was killed in battle. 

In his native county George A. Clapsad- 
dle was engaged in farming, and there reared 
his family. He came west to Illinois in later 
years and joined his children here and with 
them spent his declining years, dying De- 
cember 23, 1859. His remains were re- 
turned to Herkimer county. New York, and 
laid beside those of his wife, who died there 
September 10, 1838. They had a family 
of eight children, five sons and three daugh- 
ters, who grew to mature years. Of these 
George H. and Frederick are the only sur- 
vivors. Elizabeth married Lucas Terpen- 
ing, and they were early settlers of De Kalb 
county, but both are now deceased. Jacob 
came west and settled in Du Page county, 
Illinois, about 1842, and later moved to 
Iowa, where his death occurred. Mary 
married Jeremiah Terpening and settled in 
De Kalb county, but both are now deceased. 
Peter G. never came west, but spent his en- 



tire life in Herkimer county. George H. is 
the subject of this review. Andrew came 
to De Kalb county in 1848 and here his 
death occurred. Frederick also settled in 
De Kalb county and now owns a farm in 
Paw Paw township. Nancy died in Paw 
Paw township, a single lady. 

George H. Clapsaddle spent his boyhood 
and youth in his native county, where he 
received a fair common-school education. 
In his youth he learned the shoemaker's 
trade, serving an apprenticeship of two 
years. He then worked at his trade as a 
journeyman some eight or ten years, usually, 
however, working on the canal in the sum- 
mer and at his trade in the winter. In 
1849 he caine to De Kalb county, locating 
on a farm where he now resides, land which 
his brother Andrew entered the year pre- 
vious. Erecting a house upon the place he 
there resided with his brother Andrew, the 
two keeping " bach " while opening up their 
farms, Andrew's farm being on the opposite 
side of the road. 

Mr. Clapsaddle returned to his native 
state, and in Erie county, October i, 1855, 
married Miss Clarissa Snook, a native of 
Madison county. New York, and returning 
with his young bride, they commenced their 
domestic life on the farm which he had 
already opened up. After a period of forty 
years, Mrs. Clapsaddle was called to her re- 
ward, dying October 26, 1885, and her re- 
mains were laid to rest in the Victor ceme- 
tery. She was the mother of five children, 
three of whom are deceased, two dying in 
infancy and one, Viola L. , at the age of 
fifteen years. The living are Leila M., at 
home, and Alva A. , who is engaged in farm- 
ing in Paw Paw township. He was mar- 
ried in Earlville, La Salle county. February 
18, 1897, to Hannah M. Anderson, a native 



3o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of La Salle county, born and reared in Le- 
land, and a daughter of Andrew and Eliza 
Anderson. They have now one daughter, 
Leila Louise. 

Politically Mr. Clapsaddle is a Jackson- 
ian Democrat, and cast his first presidential 
vote for James K. Polk in 1844. His son 
also votes the Democratic ticket. The only 
office that Mr. Clapsaddle has held has been 
that of school director, as his tastes has 
never run in the direction of office holding. 
In the forty-nine years in which he has re- 
sided here he has made many friends who 
esteemed him for his steiling worth. 



NATHANIEL G. TRUBY, the leading 
harnessmaker of Sycamore, was born 
in North Lima, Columbiana county, Ohio, 
January 13, 185 i. His father, Joseph Tru- 
by, was born in Armstrong county, Pennsyl- 
vania, July 26, 1820. He was a man of 
great natural ability, self-educated in Latin 
and Greek, and for seventeen years was a 
minister in the Evangelical Association. He 
began preaching at the age of nineteen while 
clerking in his cousin's store, in Clarion 
county, Pennsylvania, filling local pulpits 
on Sundays. His first regular station was 
at Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained one 
year, going from thence to Mercer county, 
Pennsylvania, being in the Erie circuit, for 
two years, and then in the Harmony circuit, 
Butler county, Pennsylvania, for two years. 
His health failing him, he was transferred 
to the Columbiana county, Ohio, circuit, 
where he remained one year, during which 
time our subject was born. He then re- 
turned to the Erie circuit for two years, 
then again in the Columbiana county, Ohio, 
circuit one year, and then to Allegheny 
City, Pennsylvania, for two years. His 



health failing rapidly, he retired from active 
service, went to Venango county to the 
home of his wife's parents to recuperate, 
and there died, April 25, 1856. He mar- 
ried Miss Hannah King, born in Northum- 
berland county, Pennsylvania, June 25, 
1825, and a daughter of Samuel King, a 
carpenter and builder of Venango county, 
Pennsylvania, who came from Schuylkill 
county, where he was born, August 20, 
1792. Soon after his marriage he settled 
in Venango county and died there at the 
age of fifty-eight years. He married Bar- 
bara Gilger, born August 30, 1798, in North- 
umberland county, Pennsylvania, and who 
died at the age of eighty-three years. 

Rev/ Joseph Truby was the son of 
Phiilip Truby, who was born in Armstrong 
county, Pennsylvania, and who, after his 
marriage, moved to Grant, Starke county, 
Ohio. He was a blacksmith by trade and 
died at the residence of his son in Elkhart, 
Indiana, when more than seventy years of 
age. After the death of her husband Mrs. 
Joseph Truby married Abraham Niebel, now 
a resident of Sycamore, Illinois. To our 
subject's parents four children were born, 
two of whom are living, Samuel, in Maple 
Park, Illinois, and Nathaniel G., our sub- 
ject. 

The early years of our subject were 
spent in the various towns in which his fa- 
ther was stationed. After the latter's death 
he lived in Venango county for some _\-ears, 
where he attended the public schools for 
eight years. After the removal of his 
mother to Forreston, Illinois, he attended 
the public schools for one year. At the age 
of fifteen he began learning the trade of har- 
nessmaker and was engaged in that business 
for three years in Forreston, Illinois. From 
there he went to Davis, Stephenson county. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



o'J/ 



Illinois, where he worked as a journeyman 
one year, and then purchased a shop and 
business, which he continued for one year, 
then sold, and for another jear clerked in 
a store in Davis. 

It is seldom a man quits a trade to pur- 
sue a course of stud}', but our subject in- 
herited his father's love for learning, and 
went to Mt. Union, Ohio, College, where 
he took a two years course, graduating in 
the commercial department. He then went 
to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was 
employed as bookkeeper in a grocery store, 
and then for one year was with the Pitts- 
burg Chain and Car Link Company. He 
then went into the oil business at Bradford, 
Pennsylvania, where he remained until 

1881, becoming an expert in the business. 
By reason of his knowledge of the business 
he was called to Russia, where he was en- 
gaged as an oil expert for three years in 
the Caucasus, on the coast of the Black Sea, 
for a French corporation. He prospected 
into Turkish Asia, located wells, installed 
complete plants, built pipe lines, and insti- 
tuted telegraph and telephone service, and 
also put in electrical appliances. The 
company was on a grand scale, with high 
salaried officers and twenty office men to 
do the work which one man could well 
have done. The company failing, our sub- 
ject came home in the winter of 1885, and 
in 1886 located in Sycamore, being in- 
fluenced by the brother in Maple Park to 
locate here. 

Mr. Truby was married October 10, 

1882, in Emlenton, Pennsylvania, to Miss 
Estella Dreibelbis, born in Emlenton, and 
a daughter of Jacob and Ellen (Hildeman) 
Dreibelbis. By this unifin there was one 
daughter, Ethel. Mrs. Truby died May 3, 
1887, and in Sycamore, December 7, 1892, 



Mr. Truby married Mrs. Amanda B. Dean, 
widow of Charles A. Dean and daughter of 
Peter and Sarah Brown. His wife is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
In politics he is a Republican and frater- 
nally a member of the Modern Woodmen 
of America and Knights of the Globe. 



WARREN DECKER, of South Grove 
township, is a veteran of the Civil 
war. He was born in Crawford county, 
Ohio, August 21, 1839, and is the son of 
James A. and Margaret (V'anderhoof) Deck- 
er, both of whom were natives of New Jer- 
sey and who were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, six of whom are deceased. The 
living are William, Warren, Charles W. 
and Idella. The paternal grandfather, 
Aaron Decker, was a native of Ohio, and 
came with his parents to De Kalb county 
in 1844, locating in South Grove township 
where James A. Decker, the father, ac- 
quired over five hundred acres of good 
land. He became quite a prominent man 
in the township, and served as supervisor, 
assessor, road commissioner and school 
director. He was a very successful farmer. 
His death occurred at the age of forty-two 
years. 

On the farm in South Grove township 
our subject grew to manhood, and received 
his education in the district school while 
helping with the farm work. In South 
Grove township, August 8, 1862, he enlisted 
in Company C, One Hundred and Fifth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, to serve three 
years or during the war. With his regi- 
ment he participated in the various cam- 
paigns and battles under Sherman, and was 
in the march to the sea, and later in the 
grand review at Washington, at the close 



3o8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the war. He was discharged at Wash- 
ton, D. C. June i6, 1865. 

After receiving his discharge, Mr. Decker 
returned to his home in De Kalb county 
and resumed his labors upon the farm. 
Previous to his entering the service, how- 
ever, on the nth of June, 1862, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Harriet Da- 
venport, a native of New York state and a 
daughter of Abraham M. and Margaret 
(Hammond) Davenport, both natives of Jef- 
ferson county, New York, and who were 
the parents of ten children, four of whom 
are deceased. The living are Caroline, 
Elizabeth, Adelaine, Harriet, Nellie and 
Olive. To Mr. and Mrs. Decker seven 
children have been born, of whom Alma is 
deceased. The living are: James, Ella, 
Benjamin. Mertie, Jennie and Delos. 

Fraternally Mr. Decker is a member of 
General Hurlbut Post, No. 580, G. A. R., 
and politically is a stanch Republican. His 
fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres 
is kept under a high state of culti\ation. 
Mr. Decker is well known and universally 
respected. 



GURDEN C. ROWEN is a farmer re- 
siding near the village of Genoa, where 
he has a fine farm of one hundred and fifty 
acres of choice land. He was born in the 
town of Batavia, Genesee county, New 
York, August 5, 1837. His father, William 
H. Rowen, was born in Washington coun- 
ty. New York, December 3, 1799, and died 
April 4, 1880. He was twice married, his 
first union being with Betsy Gorham, who 
was born May 17, iSoi, and died February 
23, 1856. She was the mother of nine 
children, as follows: Stephen G. , of Frank- 
lin township; [ames, deceased; Boyd, de- 



ceased; Warren, deceasetl; Theron, residing 
in Kirkland, Illinois; John C, living in Col- 
orado; Mary Ann, wife of Henry Grout, of 
Kirkland; Gurden C, our subject; and 
Perry, deceased. His second union was 
with Maria Caswell, who bore him two chil- 
dren: William, residing in Oregon, Illinois, 
and Samuel G., of Kirkland, Illinois. In 
politics William H. Rowen was originally a 
Whig, but later in life a Republican. He 
was a member of the Christian church. 
His father was James Rowen, who came to 
Illinois in 1S43, and died in Franklin town- 
ship at the age of eighty years. 

Gurden C. Rowen came west with his 
parents in September, 1842. They drove 
through from New York to Chicago, and 
from there went to Racine and on to Janes- 
ville, Wisconsin, where they wintered. In 
June, 1846, they came to Franklin town- 
ship, De Kalb county, and there made per- 
manent settlement. In the district schools 
of that township our subject obtained his 
education, attending principally during the 
winter months, and assisting in farm work 
the remainder of the year. 

In February, i860, with four brothers, 
Mr. Rowen started overland to Pike's Peak, 
and was two months on the way. A few 
months experience was all that he desired, 
and he returned home in September of the 
same year. He ren'.ained under the pa- 
rental roof until the fall of 1863, and then 
went to Nebraska with a \icw of locating, 
but made no permanent settlement. In 
1868 he purchased two hundred and forty 
acres of land lying in Boone and McHenry 
counties, and there built a barn and made 
many other improvements. While he cul- 
tivated the place, he did not take up 
his residence there until some years 
later, He was united in marriage in Spring 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



309 



township, Boone county, Illinois, October 
9, 1873, with Miss Gertrude C. Randolph, 
a native of that township, and a daughter 
of Edmund F. Randolph, one of the first 
settlers on Boone's Prairie. It was on his 
farm that the first reaper, an old McCor- 
mick, was operated in Boone county. Mr. 
Randolph was born in Crawford county, 
Pennsylvania, near Meadville, December 
8, 1808, and died November 19, 1878, in 
Boone county, Illinois. He was the son of 
Edward F. Randolph, who died December 
30, 1867, at the age of ninetj'-eight years, 
and who served in the war of 1812. He 
had a very strong constitution and was hale 
and hearty in extreme old age. Edmund 
F. Randolph married Mary T. Hoffman, 
born in Beaver Creek township, Washing- 
ton county, Maryland, September 26, 18 19, 
of German parents. They were the par- 
ents of eight children, Anna E., John F., 
Julia A., William F. , Gertrude C. , Edmund 
J., Eugenie F. and Clayton F. 

Immediately after his marriage, Mr. 
Rowen moved to his farm, and there re- 
."^ided until 1880, when he moved to Genoa 
township, De Kalb county, Illinois, and has 
here since continued to reside. He first 
purchased thirty acres of land, where his 
house now stands, to which he has since 
added one hundred and twenty acres. In 
addition to general farming, he is engaged 
in dairying, keeping about twenty cows, 
and selling the product to the creamery. 
Since locating he has rebuilt the house and 
barns and made many substantial improve- 
ments. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Rowen three children 
have been born, Floyd R. . and Forrest H., 
who was drowned in 1S92, and Marjorie 
M., who is yet at home. In politics Mr. 
Rowen is a Prohibitionist. He has held the 



position of school director, because of his 
interest in public schools. He is a man of 
good business abilit}- and is one of the direct- 
ors in the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Com- 
pany. 



WILLIAM GOFF is a retired farmer 
residing in the village of Kirkland. 
It is said to be a good thing to be well born, 
and it can certainly be said of Mr. Gofi that 
he was well born, being descendants of 
Revolutionary heroes, on both paternal and 
maternal sides. He is a native of Maine, 
3orn December 8, 1822, and is the son of 
Edward and Hannah (Dill) Goff, both of 
whom were also natives of the Pine Tree 
state. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren — John, Cyrus, Edward, Jr., William, 
Joel, Stephen, James, May and Ann. Of 
the number all are deceased with the excep- 
tion of our subject. The paternal grand- 
father, Bartlett Goff, was a native of Scot- 
land, who emigrated to this country prior 
to the Re\olutionary war. His sympathies 
^\■ere upon the side of the Colonists in their 
struggle for independence, and that sym- 
pathy was manifested by years of service in 
the war. Long after independence was de- 
clared and the United States became a free 
and independent nation, he was granted a 
pension for his services, which was contin- 
ued during the remainder of his life. 

William Goff grew to manhood on the 
home farm in Maine, and there received a 
limited education in the schools of that 
early day. In his youth he went into the 
lumber camps, and was engaged in lumber- 
ing and coasting in his native state until he 
was twenty-three years of age. News of 
the boundless opportunities afforded the en- 
terprising man on the broad prairies of Illi- 



3IO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nois, liad penetrated the forests of Maine, 
and he here determined to try his fortune. 
In the spring of 1 846, he came to De Kalb 
county, and commenced work as a day la- 
borer, continuing to be thus eniploj'ed for 
some time. On the 15th of April, 1848, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Philanca 
R. Sargent, a nati\e of Vermont, and a 
daughter of Henry and Sarah (Churchill) 
Sargent, both natives of the Green Mount- 
ain state, who were the parents of seven 
children — Almond, Leonard, Azuba, Phil- 
anca, Caroline, Alonzo and Calvin. The 
grandfather of Mrs. Goff was Timothy Sar- 
gent, a native of Vermont, who came to 
De Kalb county, in an earl}' day, and pur- 
chased a large tract of land. He here spent 
the remainder of his life. 

To our subject and wife eight children 
were born, five of whom died in infancy. 
Those living are William A., Belle V. and 
Vilora A. In 1897, Mr. Gofi sold his farm, 
erected a nice residence in Kirl<land, and is 
now living a retired life. In politics he is 
an ardent Republican, and has served as 
road commissioner and constable of Frank- 
lin township. He is a highly-honored citi- 
zen of the township, and his friends are nu- 
merous throughout the county. 



CAPTAIN JAMES N. SHAFTER, the 
present eflicient sheriff of De Kalb 
county, is a veteran of the Civil war. He 
was born in Galesburg, Michigan, July 7, 
1841, and is the son of Hugh M. Shaffer, 
born in Townsend, Vermont, in 18 14, and 
the grandson of William Rufus Shaffer, also 
a native of Vermont, who spent his entire 
life in his native state, and during his active 
business career engaged in merchandising. 
He was three times married, his first and 



second wife being sisters. His death oc- 
curred in 1863 at a very advanced age. 

Hugh M. Shaffer grew to manhood in 
his native state, and married EHza Sumner, 
also a native of Townsend, Vermont, and 
a daughter of Mathias Sumner, a farmer 
and cabinet maker who married Sarah 
Barry, also of the Green Mountain state. 
In 1833 he came west and settled near 
Galesburg, Michigan, where he purchased a 
farm of two hundred and forty acres and 
there resided until his death. Hugh M. and 
Eliza Shafter became the parents of five 
children: William Rufus, the famous com- 
mander of the Cuban army of invasion, 
whose name has been iiniuortalized by the 
heroic deeds of himself and men in the 
siege and capture of Santiago. Eliza Ann, 
who is now deceased, married Job H. Aid- 
rich, who was killed at the battle of Nash- 
ville in the Civil war. [ames N. and John, 
twins, the former being the subject of this 
sketch, while the latter is now customs agent 
for the Mexican Central Railroad, at Eagle 
Pass, Te.xas. Payne died at the age of six 
weeks. 

James N. Shafter grew to manhood in 
his native county and state and there made 
his home until 1879. He attended the dis- 
trict schools till the age of twenty, in the 
meantime assisting his father in the cultiva- 
tion of the farm. In 1864, at Galesburg, 
Michigan, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Helen Foote, a native of Galesburg, 
Michigan, and a daughter of Milo Foote, 
who was one of the early settlers of that 
place. Two children came to bless this 
union, Mollie and Jessie. The former mar- 
ried Harry Courtwright, of Downers Grove, 
Du Page county, Illinois, and they have 
one son, Harry. The latter daughter is 
the wife of James Tooley, of San Francisco, 




CAPT. JAMES N. SHAFTER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



313 



California, and they liave one daughter, 
Grace. 

Shortly after his marriage Mr. Shafter 
was commissioned first lieutenant of Com- 
pany B, Seventeenth United States Colored 
Infantr)', later being promoted to rank of 
captain of Company E, same regiment, 
with which company and regiment he 
served until mustered out of the service at 
Nashville, Tennessee, April 25, 1866. The 
regiment was organized at Nashville, Ten- 
nessee, and was intended as an experiment 
to see if colored troops would act well in 
battle and what sort of soldiers could be 
made of them. They participated in the 
battle of Nashville and showed by their 
actions that they could be trusted under fire 
of the enemy. 

After being mustered out of service 
Captain Shafter returned to his old home, 
where he engaged in farming on the old 
homestead until 1879. He then went to 
Iowa, and spent some six or seven months 
looking up a location. Not finding any- 
thing to suit him, in 1880 he came to Sand- 
wich, De Kalb county, Illinois, and was 
soon afterwards made city marshal, in which 
position he served four years. He then 
became a traveling salesman for the Sand- 
wich Manufacturing Company, and was in 
the employ of that company until 1894, 
when he was elected sheriff of De Kalb 
county, which ofBce he has filled to the 
eminent satisfaction of his constituents, 
which is evidenced by their nominating him 
for the office of county treasurer in the sum- 
mer of i8g8, to which office he will doubt- 
less be elected. 

Captain Shafter's second marriage was 
in Sandwich, in 1875, when he wedded 
Nancy, widow of Alexander Edinburn, and 
a daughter of John and Rachel Haymond. 



They resided in Sandwich from 1880 until 
the election of the Captain as sheriff of the 
county in 1894, when they removed to Syca- 
more, where they yet reside. 

In politics Captain Shafter is a stanch 
Republican, and fraternally is a Mason, a 
member of the blue lodge, chapter and 
commandery in Sycamore. He is also a 
member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and of the Grand Army of the 
Republic. He is a well known sportsman, 
and is fond of trap or live bird shooting. It 
is said that he will travel farther to partici 
pate in a match, and will get more enjoy- 
ment out of it, than probably any other 
man in De Kalb county. He is the posses- 
sor of many trophies that he, has won by 
his skill as a marksman. 

While a citizen of the county compara- 
tively a short time. Captain Shafter is well 
known and his friends are legion. A thor- 
ougn patriot, he has shown his devotion to 
his country by imperiling his life upon the 
field of battle, and, while now in civil life, 
the honor and integrity of his country is as 
dear to his heart as in the days of the Civil 
war, when the brightest and best of our 
country went out in their youth and in the 
prime of life that the Union might be saved. 
As a citizen he stands ready to do his duty 
in whatever position he may be called to 
fill. In the office of sheriff of the county 
he carefully guarded the interests of the 
people against the criminal class, and in the 
treasurer's office he will show the same 
watchful care in safely keeping the trust 
committed to his hands. 



EDWIN TOWNSEND, who resides on 
section 14, Mayfield township, is a 
nati\'e of De Kalb county, born on the farm 



3t4 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



where he now resides November ii, 1838. 
His father, Charles Townsend, was born in 
Schoharie count}', New York, of which 
county the grandfather, Joshua Townsend, 
was an early settler. The latter was a 
member of an artillery company during the 
war of 1812, but was never in active serv- 
ice. From Schoharie county he moved to 
Sullivan county, New York, at an early 
day, where he cleared a tract of land and 
opened up a farm. Charles Townsend 
there grew to manhood and married Phebe 
Nichols, a daughter of Reuben and Mercy 
Nichols, natives of Connecticut. In 1836 
Joshua Townsend came to De Kalb county, 
Illinois, purchased a claim and returned to 
Sullivan county. New York, but four years 
later again came to De Kalb county, mak- 
ing his home with his sons. In 1837 
Charles Townsend came through with a 
wagon and was six weeks on the road. He 
located on a portion of the claim purchased 
by his father, and in company with his 
father and brother Stephen opened up and 
developed the farm, all working together 
for several years, after which they divided 
the claim. Charles Townsend kept the 
place where our subject now resides, owning 
a little more than two hundred acres. He 
remained on the farm and continued its 
improvement until his death, about 1880. 
His wife survived him about one year, dying 
in 1881, and both were laid to rest in the 
Mayfield cemetery. They were the parents 
of ten children, all of whom grew to mature 
years, except two, and all born on the farm 
in Mayfield township, with the exception of 
Mary Ann, who was born in Sullivan county. 
New York. She grew to womanhood and 
married Oscar Schmaldt, but is now de- 
ceased. Edwin, the suliject of this sketch, 
was next in order of birth. Francis is a 



farmer residing in Butler county, Iowa. 
Clarissa is the wife of Henry Osborn, a 
farmer of Mayfield township. Erastus re- 
sides in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Harrison 
is a farmer residing in Perry, Iowa. Caro- 
line is the wife of S. G. Smith, a farmer of 
Mayfield township. Charles M. is a farmer 
residing in Bremer county, Iowa. 

Edwin Townsend grew to manhood on 
the old home farm and remained with his 
father until he attained his majority. His 
education was attained in the common 
schools of his township, supiplemented by 
two winter teruis in a select school at S},'ca- 
more. After attaining his majority he 
worked one summer for a cousin on his farm 
and then took possession of a portion of the 
farm he now owns. In March, 1S65. he 
enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Ca\'alry, join- 
ing his regiment in the east part of Missis- 
sippi and continued with it until the close 
of the war, scouting in Mississippi and 
Alabama and doing guard duty. He was 
discharged at Selma, Alabama, in Novem- 
ber, 1865. 

Returning home Mr. Townsend resumed 
farming, and on the 20th of January, 1867, 
at Cedar Falls, Iowa, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lorinda M. F'rench, a na- 
tive of De Kalb count)-, Illinois, born in 
Sycamore, and a daughter of Sumner 
French, who was a pioneer of De Kalb 
county, locating in Sycainore in 1835. 
About 1862, Mr. Townsend had purchased 
eighty acres of his present farm, and after 
his marriage, the}' commenced their domes- 
tic life on that place, and there continued 
to reside until 18S0. After the father's 
death, he purchased the old homestead, 
comprising one hundred and forty-two acres, 
and now has a valuable faini of two hun- 
dred and twcntv-two acres, all of which is 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



315 



under cultivation and well improved in 
ever}' respect. 

Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are the parents 
of seven children; Charles S. is married 
and enjjaged in fariiiing in Mayfield town- 
ship. Orisa S. is the wife of Samuel Bick- 
ford, of Ivevvanee, Illinois. Leona yet re- 
sides at home, as also Olive, Nellie, George 
and Glen. 

Politically Mr. Townsend is a Repub- 
lican, with which party he has been identi- 
fied since casting his first presidential vote 
for Abraham Lincoln in i860. He has 
taken an active part in local politics, and is 
often sent as a delegate to the various con- 
ventions of his party. For two years he 
served as commissioner of highways, was 
township trustee a number of years, and in 
1895 was elected a member of the county 
board of supervisors, and re-elected in 1898, 
and is now serving his second term. Among 
the committees of which he has been a 
member are public buildings and grounds, 
Canada thistle, rex'enue and assessment, re- 
funding of ta.ses, etc. He has also served 
as a member of the school board for several 
years. Religiously Mrs: Townsend is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and fraternally he is a member of the Grand 
Army post at Sycamore. A life-long resi- 
dent of De Kalb county, he is entitled to 
honor for the good that he has done in de- 
veloping the county, giving it a rank second 
to none in this state. 



BAILEY ROSETTE, editor and pro- 
prietor of the De Kalb Advertiser, is a 
native of De Kalb county, born in Paw 
Paw township. He is a son of William E. 
and Elizabeth (Breese) Rosette, both na- 
tives of New Jersey, the former being of 



French extraction, who was born in this 
country a short time after the arrival of his 
parents. They were among the early pio- 
neers of De Kalb county, locating in Paw 
Paw township about 1841. In early life 
William E. Rosette learned the harness- 
maker's trade, at which he worked a num- 
ber of years. Later, however, he turned 
his attention to farming, which vocation he 
followed during the remainder of his life. 
He died in 18S0, while his wife survived 
him four years, dying in 1884. The family 
consisted of ten children, si.x of whom are 
living, two of the number being editors. 
The father lived an upright life, and received 
the respect of all who knew him. 

Bailey Rosette is the youngest of the 
family. He was reared and educated in the 
village of Paw Paw, where he completed 
his literary course in the seminary at that 
place. His time alternated between the 
schoolroom and the farm until he reached 
his twentieth year, when he went to De 
Kalb, Illinois, and entered the printing 
office of the Glidden Publishing Company, 
where he remained ten years. In Novem- 
ber, 1895, he opened a job printing office 
on Main street which proved so successful 
that in March, 1898, he began the publica- 
tion of the De Kalb Advertiser. This live- 
ly paper, though young, enjoys a large and 
increasing patronage, and takes rank among 
the leading local papers of the county. Its 
editor is a wide-awake man who thoroughly 
understands his business, and seems to be 
in harmony with it. 

On November 26, 1889, Mr. Rosette 
was joined in marriage with Miss Minnie 
Smith, daughter of John and Ann Smith, of 
Clintt)ii, Iowa. By this union there is one 
child, Breese Rosette, born June 28, 1892. 

Fraternally Mr. Rosette is a member of 



3i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the Knights of the Globe, Royal Arcanum, 
Modern Woodmen of America, and Knights 
of Pythias. As a citizen he advocates every 
enterprise for the public good. 



WILLIAM WITTER, who has a fine 
farm on sections 3 and 10, Franklin 
township, traces his ancestry to his great- 
grandfather, Jose]5h Witter, Sr. , a native 
of Germany, who came to America in 
colonial days, locating in Massachusetts, 
where he followed farming during his en- 
tire life. His son, John Witter, Jr., was 
a native of Massachusetts, where he also 
followed the occupation of a farmer. 
During the war of 1812 he served faith- 
fully and well as a soldier. His son, Dr. 
Joseph Witter, was also a native of Massa- 
chusetts, but who remo\'ed to the state of 
Ohio when a young man and there en- 
gaged in the practice of medicine. He 
later moved to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, 
where he continued in practice. He mar- 
ried Miss Esther Overocker, a native of 
New York, and they became the parents 
of four children: William, Milo, Catherine 
and Sarah. Of these the two last named 
are deceased. From Ohio, Dr. Witter 
moved with his family to Michigan in 1837, 
and located on a farm near Ann .\rbor. 

William Witter was born in Cu}'ahoga 
county, Ohio, February 21, 1821. Before 
leaving his nati\'e state. In; ac<]uired a hm- 
ited education in the common schools. 
He was si.xteen \ears of age when he ac- 
companied his parents to Washtenaw coun- 
ty, Michigan, and he there remained until 
1 843, when he came to Illinois and located in 
Boone county, where he purchased one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of government land, 
which he proceeded to develop into a pro- 



ductive farm. He continued a resident of 
Boone county until 1886, in the meanwhile 
giving his attention exclusively to farming. 
Since that time he has lived a retired life 
in the \illage of Kirkland. 

On the 1 8th of November, 1S46, Mr. 
Witter was united in marriage with Julia 
A. Shirley, a native of Ohio, and by this 
union were three children: Joseph C. , 
Ellen E. and Mary A. For thirty-seven 
Airs. Witter was an invalid, and during the 
last twenty-five years of her life she was 
unable to walk a step. Death came to her 
relief ]unc 4, 1889, at the age of si.xty-four 
years. 

The maternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, Adam Overocker, was a native of Ger- 
many, who came to /\merica before the 
Revolutionary war. In that war he served 
as a soldier, and after its close was made a 
pensioner, which pension was continued 
until his death. 

Politically Mr. Witter was originally a 
Whig, casting his first presidential vote for 
William Henry Harrison. Because of his 
liberty views he drifted into the Repub- 
lican party on its organization, and with 
that party has si;!ce continued to act. 
While never desiring public of^ce. he has 
served as road commissioner, to the satis- 
faction of those residing with his district. 
He is a member of the Congregational 
church, with which body his wife was also 
identihed. A Christian man, he endeavors 
to live up to the teachmgs of the golden 
rule, and so live as to merit the respect of 
his fellow citizens. 



CHRISTIAN J. OHLMACHER, one of 
the leading plumbers of Sycamore, Il- 
linois, was born near Frankfort -on -the- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



317 



Main, Province of Nassau, Germany, June 
14, 1844. He began his school life in Ger- 
many and there attended school some eight- 
een months, when in 185 i his p^.rents sailed 
for America. The family went down the 
Rhine to Rotterdam, from which place they 
went to London, where they were joined by 
the father, Henry Ohlmacher, who had iled 
the country, having participated in the rev- 
olution of 1848. He escaped to Switzer- 
land and thence made his way to London, 
where he waited for his family. He served 
with the German troops under Wellington 
at the battle of Waterloo, and was with the 
army that marched into Paris, where, at 
Castle Hugenot, his brother, a fine marks- 
man, jumped on the wall to bring down a 
French officer. He succeeded, but received 
a bullet through his own head. • The pa- 
ternal grandfather, Phillip Ohlmacher, was 
a shepherd in Germany and there li\'ed and 
died. 

Henry Ohlmacher, the father, was b}- 
trade a gilder of metals, such as sv\ords, 
guns, etc.. a work at that time done by 
hand instead of electricity as now done. 
He married Catherine Priestersbach, who 
was born in Nassau, Germany, and an only 
child of her parents. They became the 
parents of six sons and fourdaughters. seven 
of whom are yet living. On coming to this 
country the family located in the suburbs of 
Sandusky, Ohio, where the father purchased 
a small farm and there lived and died in 
1873, when about seventy-six years old. 
His wife died at the age of eighty-six years. 

The subject of this sketch attended the 
Sandusky schools until the age of fourteen 
years, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, to 
drive an express wagon for his brother and 
there remained three years. From Cincin- 
nati he went to Aurora, Illinois, where sev- 



eral of his brothers were then living, and 
there learned the tinner's trade, serving 
until twenty-one years old. Returning to 
Sandusky, Ohio, he remained eighteen 
months, and then came back to Aurora, Il- 
linois, where he was in the hardware busi- 
ness from 1868 to 1874. In the latter year 
he sold out and came to Sycamore, Illinois, 
and served as foreman in the shops of Cap- 
tain Whittemore for more than twenty 
years. In the summer of 1897 he opened 
an establishment of his own, where he does 
all kinds of tin and sheet metal w-ork and 
plumbing, having a well furnished shop 
with all the necessary appliances for doing 
the highest grade of work. 

In 1864 Mr. Ohlmacher was united in 
marriage at Sandusky, Ohio, with Miss 
Anna Scherer, a native of Portsmouth, Ohio, 
and a daughter of John Scherer who was 
born in Germany. By this union nine chil- 
dren have been born, (i) Albert, who grew 
to manhood in Aurora and Sycamore, and 
after receiving his education in the public 
schools read medicine with Dr. Nesbitt, then 
spent one year at Rush Medical College, 
Chicago, but was later graduated from the 
Chicago Medical College. After his 
graduation he located at Gallipolis, Ohio, 
where he commenced the practice of his 
profession. He is now one of the foremost 
bacteriologists in the country. In the summer 
of 1S97 he visited the hospitals and colleges 
in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and 
Washington, making special study of an- 
titoxin and reduced the time of perfecting 
the serum from six months to three weeks, 
wiiich called forth complimentary and 
congratulatory notices in all the leading 
medical journals of the country. He married 
Miss Grace Peck, of Sycamore, Illinois, and 
they have two children, Horace and Albert. 



3i8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



(2) Fred, who is in business in Lockporl, 
Illinois, married Miss Blanclie Paddock, 
and they have two children. Vera and 
Florence. (3) Dora, and (4) William, are 
deceased. (5) Lillian is in the employ of 
Johnson & King, dry goods merchants of 
Sycamore. (6) Joseph is now a medical 
student in the Chicago College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons. (/) Henry is deceased. 
(8) Annie is a teacher in the public schools 
of Sycamore. (9) Winfield is learning his 
father's trade. 

In politics Mr. Ohlmacher is an in- 
dependent Democrat, and has served as 
alderman in Sycamore for several terms. 
He is now superintendent of the city water 
works, a position he is well qualified to fill. 
Fraternally he is a Mason, having member- 
ship in the blue lodge, chapter and coni- 
mandery, and has represented the order in 
the grand lodge. He is also a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has 
filled all the chairs of his lodge, and has re- 
presented it in the grand lodge. He was 
formerly a member of the Knights of 
Pythias, when the order had a lodge in 
Sycamore. An e.xpert workman, good 
business man, public spirited and enterpris- 
ing, he has many friends in Sycamore and 
throughout De Kalb county. 



KENDALL JACK MAN, who is engaged 
in the lumber business at Genoa, Illi- 
nois, is one of the representative businessmen 
of the place. He was born at Chautauqua, 
Franklin county. New York, September 22, 
1S24, and is the son of Abner and Mary 
(Kendall) Jackman, the former a native of 
Weathersfield, \'ermont, born in 1800, and 
who died in De Kalb county, in November, 
1 85 I. When a young man, he moved to 



Franklin county. New York, and in 1834 
came to Illinois and bought a farm near 
Plainfield. In 1836, he bought a farm of 
two hundred acres in Sycamore township, 
and there spent the remainder of his life. 
He was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church and a strong abolitionist. For 
several years he served as justice of the 
peace. His wife survived hini many years, 
dying when seventy years old. They were 
the parents of seven children as follows: 
Kendall, Mrs. Eliza A. Brown, Martin 
Luther, Mrs. Armenia Nichols, Mrs. Lou- 
isa A. Brown, Mrs. Hattie DePuc, and Mrs. 
Mary A. Field, 

Kendall Jackson was ten years old when 
he accompanied his parents to Illinois. 
While yet residing in New York, he attend- 
ed the district school, and on coming to 
Sycamore township he attended school in 
the first log school-house built in the town- 
ship. When he attained his majority, he 
commenced working for himself, at ten dol- 
lars per month, on vaiious farms in the 
neighborhood, and continued to be thus em- 
ployed for two years. At times he worked 
in a ha_\- field at fifty cents per day. He 
was married in Sycamore township, Octo- 
ber 10, 1847, to Miss Ann C. Hunt, a na- 
tive of New Jersey, and a daughter of 
Hedges and Sarah (Stark) Hunt. By this 
union two children were born, Frank H. 
and Vesper, the latter being deceased. 
Frank H. grew to manhood, and first mar- 
ried E\a Guernsey, by whom he had one 
daughter, Eveline. His second marriage 
was with Letitia Van Alstine, a daughter of 
William Van .Mstine, and they have one 
son, ^^'illiam. 

After his marriage, Mr. Jackman rented 
land and commenced farming for himself. 
His outfit consisted of two steers and an olil 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



319 



cart. After renting for a year or two, he 
purchased forty acres in Sycamore town- 
ship, to which he added from time to time 
until he had a large and finely improved 
farm. He continued to reside upon that 
place, engaged in farming, until 1878, when 
he moved to the village of Genoa and com- 
menced dealing in coal, wood, grain, stock 
and farm machinery. He continued in busi- 
ness alone for eight years, when he took his 
sons into partnership with him, and they 
have since continued in business under the 
firm name of Jackman & Sons. 

In politics Mr. Jackman is a Republic- 
an, with which party he has been identified 
since its organization. For fifteen years he 
served his township as supervisor, and that 
he discharged the duties of the office satis- 
factorily is attested by the long-continued 
service. He has been a master Mason for 
twenty-five years. Mr. Jackman arrived in 
De Kalb county before the Indians had left, 
and has witnessed the development of this 
garden spot of the continent from a wilder- 
ness to its present highly-cultivated condi- 
tion. He first lived in a log house, and 
went twenty-five or thirty miles to mill. 
The country was open, no fences having 
been erected, and he could ride over it in 
any direction. Few houses were in sight 
from even the highest ooint of land. 



THOMAS S. CORKINGS, deceased, was 
a native of Lincolnshire, England, born 
in 1830, and was the son of William and 
Mary Corkings, both of whom were also 
natives of England. In 1848, when but 
eighteen years old, he came to the United 
States and located in Niagara county. New 
York. The following year his parents also 
emigrated to this country, and after remain- 



ing in Niagara county about two years, they 
removed to Belvidere, Illinois, where the 
father engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
for several years successfully carried on a 
farm in Boone county. Later he removed 
to De Kalb, where he engaged in the brew- 
ing business, in which he continued a num- 
ber of years, when he sold his interest, in 
1872, to our subject, .-^fter a few years of 
retired life he died at De Kalb, and was 
soon followed by his wife. 

Thomas Corkings was fourth in a family 
of six children, and was reared and educated 
in his native country. For some years 
after his arrival in the United States he fol- 
lowed farming, but in 1872, as stated, he 
purchased his father's interest in a brewery 
at De Kalb, and successfullj' conducted it 
until 1884, after which he engaged in no 
special line of business. 

On the 30th of June, 1863, Mr. Corkings 
married Miss Sarah A. Garlick, a native of 
Canada, born November 16, 1843, and a 
daughter of Joseph and Eliza Garlick, na- 
tives of England, but of Scotch descent, 
who emigrated to Canada and later to the 
United States. By this union were three 
children, two of whom are living, George 
and Joseph W. In 1873 thej' adopted an- 
other child, Nellie, born in De Kalb. 

Fraternally Mr. Corkings was a Mason, 
being a member of the blue lodge at De 
Kalb and the commandery at Sycamore. 
He was a man of rare business talents, keen 
perceptions and broad ideas. He held the 
office of alderman for a time to the ciedit 
of those who elected him. He died in Feb- 
ruary. 1896, at the age of si.\t\-two jears. 
In his death the wife lost a loving husband, 
the children an affectionate father and the 
community one of its most enterprising 
citizens. 



320 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



HORACE HASKINS, who resides upon 
section 34, Genoa township, is one of 
the most successful farmers and financiers 
in De Kalb count}'. He was born near 
Henderson Harbor, in Jefferson county. 
New Vorlc, on the borders of Lake Ontario, 
November 17, 1820. His father, John Has- 
kins, was a native of New York, born Feb- 
ruary 13, 1781. He was a farmer and fish- 
erman, depending mostly upon the lake for 
his sustenance. His wife, Mary Tolman, 
was born August 28, 1783. Her ancestors 
came to America in the Mayflower. John 
and Mary (Tolman) Haskins were the par- 
ents of thirteen children, of whom our sub- 
ject was tenth in order of birth. They 
never came west, but died in the county 
which had so long been their home, the 
father in 1856 and the mother in 1825. 
He served in the war of 18 12. The pater- 
nal grandfather, John Haskins, Sr. , was a 
farmer by occupation, and it is supposed 
that he ser\ed in the Revolutionary war. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in his native county, and assisted his 
father in fishing and working a small piece 
of ground. He began life under very un- 
favorable conditions, but was always handy 
with tools, and earl}' in life learned 
the cabinet-maker's trade, and for a time 
engaged in the manufacture of trunks, from 
which he derived some little income. He 
was a shrewd trader even in his boyhood, 
and followed the Yankee boy's bent of trad- 
ing jack-knives, taking a poor knife, sharp- 
ening and polishing it, then trading for 
another one, getting " boot." In this wa\' 
he made enough to pay tuition in the prim- 
itive schools, and also pay his father's ta.xes, 
which, by the way, were less than a dollar. 
After securing an arithmetic, he attended 
school but eleven days, from the fact that 



being so handy with his knife he was asked 
by the teacher to make and mend all the 
pens, which were then made entirely of 
quill, and being too obliging for his own 
good he was kept busy helping the teacher. 

When but five years of age Mr. Haskins 
lost his mother, and his father later married 
a widow who had children by a former hus- 
band, thus increasing the family to twenty- 
two, which was entirely too many, mouths 
to feed on the small income that could be 
derived from fishing and working the small 
place. In view of this fact, our subject de- 
termined to improve his fortunes in the 
west. On March 11, 1841, when but little 
more than twenty years old, he married 
Miss Polly Maria Beebe, born in the town 
of Loraine, Jefferson county. New York, 
June 17, 1820, and a daughter of John 
Beebe, a cabinet maker by trade, who mar- 
ried Sallie Clark, daughter of John Clark. 
By this union there were three children: 
fames Harvey, who died on the lake during 
the emigration of the family; Mary Eliza- 
beth, wife of John Haines, of New Hamp- 
shire; and Martha Minerva, wife of Daniel 
Beebe, residing on our subject's farm near 
Charter Grove station, De Kalb county, Illi- 
nois. Mr. Haskins adopted Horace Clar- 
ence Haskins, Jul}' 27, 1870, as his son. 
He was born May 4, 1866. When grown 
to manhood he married Clara Vogel, and 
they have three children, Nora. James H. 
and Pearl. They li\e in the village of 
Charter Grove. 

The father-in-law of our subject decided 
to come west with him, and Mr. Haskins 
assisted in the building of a boat, at Hen- 
derson's Harbor, that was to make its 
maiden trip to Chicago in 1844. .-^fter 
finishing the boat the father-in-law sold his 
farm, and joining our subject, they both 




HORACE HASKINS. 




MRS. HORACE HASKINS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



came west willi ihcir families. It was a 
long voyage, their vessel being detained one 
week in the Welland canal, where the young 
son of our subject was taken sick, and grow- 
ing worse, he died in the straits of Macki- 
nac, and was buried at Milwaukee. He 
landed at Chicago with but five dollars and 
thirty-seven and a half cents and from that 
place went to St. Charles, Kane county, 
Illinois, where he got work but was nearl}' 
cheated out of his wages. After remaining 
in St. Charles a few weeks he started for Ue 
Kalb county, and passed through Burlington 
township, Kane county, July 4, 1S44. His 
first settlement was made in Sycamore town- 
ship, where he rented a farm of Elihu 
Wright, and then worked for another party 
for a pair of young steers, and traded until 
he got another pair. In trading he always 
came out just a little ahead. His first pur- 
chase of land was forty acres of timber, 
the title of which was defecti\e owing to a 
prior claim. He gave up half to get a clear 
title to the remainder. That twenty acres 
yet remains in his possession. Finally he 
bought forty acres in his wife's name, in 
Genoa township, and forty acres just west 
in his own name, where he has since re- 
sided, a period of more than fifty years. 

f.ater Mr. Haskins jiurchased the Jona- 
than Perry farm in Sycauiore township, in 
partnership with another man. Having to 
make most of the payments, he finally got 
a division of the land, and soon had a clear 
title to one hundred and si.\ty-two and a 
half acres, on which one of his daughters 
now resides. During the early days he bor- 
rowed money at thirty-three and a third per 
cent, interest, and for a short time borrowed 
some at one hundred per cent, interest. 
In his business management he has been 
wonderfully successful, being a man of fine 



judgment and quick to sec advantages in a 
purchase. He has now two hundred and 
fifty acres in De Kalb county, si.\ty acres in 
.Sac county, Iowa, nearly one thousand 
acres in Madison county, Nebraska, about 
seven miles from Madison, the county seat. 
Recentl}' he sold one hundred and sixty 
acres in Michigan. He has made many im- 
provements in land owned by him, built 
many houses and barns, erected numerous 
windmills, and supplied each farm with im- 
proved implements. \\'hile living on his 
first rented farm in 1844, he bought in Chi- 
cago and brought to De Kalb county, the 
first steel scouring plow ever brought to the 
county, wooden mold boards being used 
prior to that time. 

On the iith of March, 1891, Mr. and 
Mrs. Haskins celebrated their golden wed- 
ding, many guests being received from Syca- 
more and surrounding points. Old friends 
who have lived through changes of the 
countr\', from a waving sea of prairie grass 
to a garden of plenty, and who were able 
to recall many interestmg scenes of the long 
ago. ■ Four years later, however, on the 
9th of .-\pril, 1895, Mrs. Haskins was called 
to her final rest. 

A few years since Mr. Haskins re-visited 
his old home in New York, and, like Rip 
\'an Winkle, he knew no one and was un- 
known. The old mill and dam were gone, 
the Baptist church of the hill side, which 
he saw built, haddisTippeared and the only 
trace of his father's old homestead was a 
decaying gatepost which he had set out 
more than half a century ago. In politics 
Mr. Haskins is a Republican, but has never 
had time for public office; a man of unusual 
executive ability, his success has been great 
and he is now living to enjoy the fruits of a 
life well spent. 



326 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



HENK\' l'>. (.1 KLKK, dairy inan, is 
considered by Americans and Cana- 
dians to be the best authority on dairying 
in America. He was born in Chesterfield, 
Cheshire county, New Hampshire, May 21, 
1840. His i^arents, Benjamin and Harriet 
(Hopkins) Curler, soon afterwards removed 
to Keene, New Hampshire, where they re- 
sided until 1S56, when they came to De 
Kalb county, and settled on section 32, De 
Kalb township. They were both natives of 
New England, the former born in Massa- 
chusetts and the. latter in New Hampshire. 
The Curlers are of Welsh e.xtraction, while 
the Hopkins are of English. Benjamin 
Curler was a mechanic, but later in life 
abandoned it for the cultivation of the soil. 
On coming to Dc Kalb township he pur- 
chased a farm of one liundred and sex'enty 
acres, which was partially improved, and 
there remained peacefully and honorably 
until old age advanced the pace, and in 1883 
he retired from active life and removed to 
the city of De Kalb, where his death oc- 
curred in his eighty-third year. His wife 
died in her seventy-si.xth year. 

Henry B. Curler was the first born in the 
family of five children, four of whom are 
\et living. In his native state he received 
his education and there remained until his 
sixteenth year, when he accompanied his 
parents to De Kalb count}'. He lived on 
the home farm and assisted in its cultiva- 
tion, while teaching school two winter 
terms, until he attained his majority. The 
war for the Union was then in progress and 
he offered his services to his country, enlist- 
ing in the Forty-second Illinois N'olunteer 
Infantry, Company K, under Captain J. D. 
Butts. After experiencing some of the hard- 
ships incident to war life in Missouri, Ken- 
tuck\', Mississippi, Tennessee and .Alabama, 



he was hunorabh' clischarged on account of 
disability in September. 1862. In May, 
1864, he re-enlisted in Compan\' K, One 
Hundred and Thirty-second lUintjis \"olun- 
teer Infantry, and was commissioned second 
lieutenant and was [)laced on garrison duty 
in Kentucky, where he remained until Octo- 
ber of the same year and was again honor- 
ably discharged. 

Returning home. Lieutenant Curler en- 
gaged in general merchandizing in De Kalb, 
in which he continued until i8C),S, when he 
returned to the f.irm. He soon purchased 
a farm on section 5, Afton township, which 
he improved and which is now one of the 
finest farms in the township. In 1870 he 
began dairying in a small way, his business 
gradually growing until it has reached phe- 
nomenal dimensions. On commencing the 
business he kept a strict account of all his 
expenditures, experiments made and the 
results of each. His knowledge thus gained 
was in due time given to the world and his 
ability and authority upon all questions per- 
taining to the dairy business was recognized 
throughout the length and breadth of the 
land. 

In 1882 Mr. (iiirler removed from his 
farm to the city of De Kalb, where he enjoys 
the pleasures and comforts of a tine home. 
It was about this time that he embarked in 
the creamery business proper, forming a co- 
partnership with his brother Ceorge and H. 
H. Hopkins, of Hinckley, Illinois. This co- 
partnership was continued until January i, 
1896, when it was dissolved by mutual con- 
sent and the business divided among the 
members of the firm. .\Ir. Curler has now 
two creameries and two milk stations, one 
of his creameries being at De ICalb and 
the other at I'ive Corners. During the en- 
tire time in which he has been engaged in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the business, he has given it his personal 
supervision, every part of it coining under 
his eye, nothing being too trivial for his 
notice, hence his success. 

In 1891 Professor W. A. Henry, of the 
Wisconsin Agricultural College, importuned 
him to take charge of the dairy department 
in that institution — the first dairy school in 
America. He accepted the position, and 
was instructor for one term. The state of 
^'ermont next sought his services for her 
agricultural college, where he served as in- 
structor two terms. In 1893 the Pennsyl- 
vania Agricultural College engaged his val- 
uable services, with which he continued three 
terms. All this time his home business was 
making rapid strides, and his reputation e.x- 
tended far and near. A new enterprise was 
now thrust upon him. There was a de- 
mand for pure milk in Chicago for infants 
and invalids, leading physicians of the city 
demanding it in their practice. Mr. Curler 
undertook to supply the demand. With 
many misgivings, he commenced the ship- 
ment of "certified milk." He was en- 
couraged by those who knew him in this en- 
terprise, one of the professors in an institu- 
tion where he was an instructor in pre\ious 
years, writing him "that if anybody can 
lurnish pure milk, }ou can." The following 
named doctors have certified to the purity 
of the milk ; W. S. Christopher, Fernand 
Henrotin, Frank S. Johnson, Lester E. 
Frankenthal, A. C. Cottin, Professor \\'d\- 
ter S. Haines, and nearly tifty others, all of 
Chicago. The business has become enor- 
mous. 

In 1893 -^^i- Curler was induced to issue 
a work on dairying by the authorities of 
those agricultural colleges with which he 
caine in touch. This book is the result of 
his own personal experience in the dairj' 



business, and is of inestimable value, not 
only to dairymen but to any man who keeps 
a milk cow. Its appropriate name is 
"American Dairying." This work has been 
highly recommended by the press and also 
b\- all the highest dairy authorities in the 
country. Of this work, John B. Hand, pro- 
prietor of The Dairy, 144 Fleet street, Lon- 
don, England, says: "The excellent prac- 
tical treatise on dairying, farming and the 
management of creameries by H. B. Curler, 
is of extreme \alue, well written, abounding 
in information. I have nothing but praise 
for the book, from which I shall take the 
liberty of quoting as opportunity offers." 
The work is highly recommended by Pro- 
fessor W. A. Henry, Dean of the College of 
Agriculture and director of the Wisconsin 
Agricultural Experiment Station, who says: 
" This work cannot help proving a genuine 
addition to our liinited list of agricultural 
books of real merit." Professor H. |. Wa- 
ters, professor in the Pennsylvania Agricult- 
ural College, says: "It was during his en- 
gagement with the dairy school of the Penn- 
sylvania State College that Mr. Curler was 
finally induced to put in book form the re- 
sults of his \ears of experience, careful 
thought and research in dair\ing. "•■' •■' '■ 
I note with great pleasure the favorable 
impression it is making and the great atten- 
tion it is attracting." D. W. Wilson, sec- 
retary of the National Dairy Union, writes: 
" The great advantage of this work at the 
present time, it seems to me, will be the 
fact that Mr. Curler has been at the front 
in all the progress and advancement of the 
dairy for the last twenty-five 3'ears. " Manj' 
other agricultural papers mention the clear, 
concise and unambiguous terms used by Mr. 
Curler. The following are words of praise 
from ex-Governor Hoard: 



328 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



"()iie<i[llic iiicist iiotal)lr lliiiij^s in coii- 
iiection with practical dairyiuii; ilurii)!; tlu' 
present ('1895) year is the pnhiiration of a 
practical treatise on that subject by a man 
of vvi<1e cNperience, trained jucignient and 
skilled common sense. It treats every phase 
of the (juestion from the l^reeding and selec- 
tion of the cow to the final marketinjjof the 
finished product. - ■'■ ■•■ We ha\e read 
the book with ^reat care — much of it more 
than once and the more we read it the bet- 
ter we liked it. As a literary i)rodiiction it 
is almost equal to ("irant's Memoirs, so un- 
affected is its diction, so direct and simple 
its sentences, so candid in every utterance. 
He writes of what he knows, of what he has 
seen and tried, and unlike many writers of 
books, he has the rare gift of omitting the 
superfluous and uncertain. Having been in 
personal business contact with ever\' branch 
of the subject for many \ ears — growing the 
fodder, feeding and milking the cows, cream- 
ing the milk and churning and marketing 
the butter in the private dairy and in the 
creamery — his experience as an instructor 
in the dairy .schools of Wisconsin, X'ermont 
and Pennsylvania has taught liiin what to 
say and how to say it. The result is that 
he has given us the best book on dairying 
that was ever written, not too learned or 
technical for the beginner, nor too verbose 
or commonplace for the scientist, the expert 
or the editor. The publishers (]. H. San- 
dtTS I'ublishing Company, Chicago 1 ha\e 
done their part well, as well in the matter 
of price (one dollar) as in typography and 
press Work. At least ten thousand dairy 
farmers and butter makers should read this 
book during the coming winter." 

Henry B. Gurler was one of the board 
of reviewing judges for dairying machinery 
at the Columbian E.xposition. He was also 



judge of the butter in the breed contest at 
the same e.xposition. No man was better 
fitted for the positions and no man ga\ e bet- 
ter satisfaction. More than once Mr. Cur- 
ler's rare discriminating powers were tested 
in that the same flutter was presented for 
competition under two names, or, in other 
words, the same man would send two pack- 
ages, one to compete with the other. In 
each case Mr. Curler would detect the fraud 
and classify the jjiitter where it belonged. 
He was twice elected president of the Illi- 
nois Dairy Association, refusing to take a 
third term. For se\eral years he was treas- 
urer ol the Northwestern Dairy Associa- 
tion at the time ex-Covernor Hoard was its 
president. He has re]iresciited the dair}' 
interests of Illinois on the Experiment Sta- 
tion Board of Control continuously since 
its organization under the Hatch law in 
iSSf). 

Xot only is Mr. Curler authority on 
dairying, but also on buildings where cows 
are kept. The representatives of the Wis- 
consin Experimental and Agrictdtural Sta- 
tion, after visiting the United States and 
Canada for ideas to incorporate in their new 
barns and cow stables, patterned ;ifter those 
of Mr. Gurler. 

On the 27th of March, 1X67, Mr. Cur- 
ler was imited in marriage with Miss Selenia 
Kolfe, a native of IZngland and a daughter 
of George Rolfe, of l)e txalb county. By 
this union were three children, two of 
whom are now living: Stella I". , now Mrs. 
I^undberg, and Lulu Maj-. 

Fraternally Mr. Curler is a nuMnbcrof the 
Grand .\rmy of the Kepublir ;iud was the 
first commander of Merritt Simonds Post, 
No. 283. He is also a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, of the blue lodge and fha[)- 
ter at I)e Kalb. While residing in .Aftnn 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



329 



township he served as a member of the 
board of school trustees and since removing 
to De Kalb has served as a member of the 
board of education, and also as a member 
of the city council. In whatever position 
he has been called on to fill, he has dis- 
charged the duties faithfully and well. As 
a business man he has met with unqualified 
success and as a citizen he is held in the 
highest esteem. 



EUGENE O. DONNELLY, who resides 
upon a fine farm of one hundred and 
si.xty acres in section 8, .\fton township, De 
Kalb count}', Illinois, is a native of the city 
of Dublin, Ireland, born January i, 1852, 
and is the son of John and Sarah (Farrell) 
Donnelly, both of whom were also natives 
of the Green Isle. They were the parents 
of two children, Eugene O., our subject, 
and Mary, who married George Nelson and 
now resides in Osage county, Kansas. In 
1 864 the family came to America and located 
in De Kalb county, Illinois, where the father 
followed agricultural pursuits. 

Our subject was but twelve years of age 
when he accompanied his parents to the 
United States and during his minority- 
assisted in the cultivation of the home farm, 
and as the opportunity was afforded him at- 
tending the district schools. On the 10th 
of Januar}\ 1S83, he was united in marriage 
\\ith Miss Margaret Horan, a native of 
Pierce township, De Kalb county, Illinois, 
and by this union are three children, Mary, 
John and Sarah. Soon after his marriage 
he purchased the farm on which he now re- 
sides and began its further improvement. 
His wife, who was a consistent member of 
the Catholic church, died in 1889. On the 



3rd of April, 1893, Mr. Donnelly was again 
married, choosing as his companion Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Lyons) Eindley, a native of De 
Kalb county, and they have now three chil- 
dren, Martin, Elizabeth and Eugene. 

In politics Mr. Donnelly is a Democrat. 
He has been honored by his fellow citizens 
with \arious township offices, including 
commissioner of highways, a position which 
he has held several terms. F~raternally he 
is a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
.America and religiously is a Catholic. As 
a farmer he has been cjuite successful and 
ever keeps his farm under a high state of 
culti\ation, making of it one of the best in 
the township. .\s a citizen he is deservedly 
held in high esteem. 



SILAS R. CAMPBELL, deceased, who 
for many years was a well-known 
farmer in Sycamore township, was born in 
Chenango county, New York, March 31, 
1833, and was the son of John R. and Clar- 
inda (Marvin) Campbell, who came from 
New York to De Kalb county, about 1853, 
the former dying in Sycamore township, at 
the age of eighty-one years, and the latter 
when eighty-two years old. 

The subject of this sketch spent his 
boyhood and youth in his native state, 
where he was educated in the common 
schools. He came with his parents in 1853, 
and remained with them until after he at- 
tained his majority. He was twice married, 
his first union being with Mrs. Mary Ham- 
mond, who died in 1866. They were the 
parents of four children, all of whom are de- 
ceased. 

The second union of Mr. Campbell was 
solenniized Januar\' 1, 18O8, when he mar- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ried Miss Fhcebe Catherine Winans, a native 
of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, born 
August 13, 1844, and a daugiiter of Isaac 
and Bets}' (Christy) Winans. both of whom 
were natives of Pennsyhania. Her father 
come west in 1S46, and settled in Mayfield 
township, where he lived one year, and 
then removed to another farm in the same 
township, a little farther west, where he re- 
mained some six or eight years. He then 
moved to the city of .Sycamore, and there 
resided some two or three years, after which 
he purchased a farm on section 2r, Syca- 
more township, and there resided until his 
death in the s])ring of i86r, when about 
fifty years old. His wife survived him 
many years, dying in Burlington township. 
Kane county, Jul}- i, 1898, at the age of 
eighty-eight years. They were the parents 
of ten children, as follows: Philetus P., 
living in Kane county; James D., deceased; 
Harriet M., wife (jf ("lilbert \'an Dusen; 
Edward K., living in Marengo, Illinois; Clark 
A., residing in Sycamore; Phtsbe C, widow 
of our subject; George W. , who died in 
Mayfield township, De Kalb county; Thirza 
J., wife of Thomas Fathergill; Jeremiah O., 
residing in Marengo, Illinois; and Susan, 
who died in childhood. 

To our subject and wife five children have 
been born, (i) Rufus Allen, born March 
10, 1869, died October g, 1897. Frater- 
nally he was a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America. (2) Leon Murray, 
born Jul}' 22, 1870, married Alice Olsen, by 
whom he has two children, Esther May and 
Helen Irene. He is now engaged in farm- 
ing in Sycamore township. (3) Libbie An- 
geline, born August 19, 1873, married Rob- 
ert J. ). Montgomery, and they have two 
children, Robert J. J. and William McKin- 
ley. They reside in Kane county, Illinois. 



(4) Mary Maude married Harry Drew, and 
they reside on the farm with Mrs. Campbell. 
151 Horace Wilson, at present living in 
Colorado, working for the Chicago Portrait 
Company. He is a member of the Modern 
\\'oodinen of America. 

In politics Mr. Campbell was a Repub- 
lican, but not specially active part in political 
affairs. He was a man that devoted his at- 
tention to his farming interests, and to the 
welfare ol his fainilw His death in Januar}', 
1 885, was mourned by a largecircle of friends. 
Mrs. Campbell, who still remains upon the 
farm, is a woman that is greatly esteemed. 
She is a member of the Charter Grove 
Methodist Episcopal church, and also of 
the Daughters of the Globe, and Ladies of 
the Maccabees. 



NELSON SIVWRIGHT, now living a 
retired life on his farm in section 15, 
Mayfield township, has been a resident of 
De Kalb county since 1848. He is a native 
of Nova Scotia, born November 26, 1839, 
and is the son of Alexander Sivwright, 
also a natixe of Nova Scotia, born February 
22, 1800. His grandfather, James Siv- 
wright, was a native of Scotland, and, in 
1776, enlisted in the British army, and 
served against the Americans in the Rev- 
olutionary war. He was with the British in 
the battle of Bunker Hill, and was later 
taken prisoner in Connecticut, and held for 
eighteen months, when he was exchangetl 
and fought against the French in the West 
Indies. Subsequently he settled in Nova 
Scotia, and there married. 

Alexander Sivwright was reared in his 
native country and there married Mary Kil- 
cup, also a native ui Nova Scotia. While 
residing m his native land he engaged in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORi:. 



farming for some years. Desiring to better 
his condition in life, he came to De Kalb 
county, Illinois, in 1848, and purchased 
eighty acres of land on section 15, Mayfield 
township, forty acres of which had been 
broken, and a log house had been erected 
on the place. On that farm he continued 
to reside during the remainder of his life, his 
death occurring August 22, 1886. His wife 
died July 18, 1885, and both were laid to 
rest in the Maj-field cemetery. Of their five 
children, Nelson and his brother James are 
the only survivors. 

Nelson Sivwright came to De Kalb coun- 
ty, a lad of nine years, and assisted in the 
cultivation of the home farm until after he 
attained his majority, receiving a very lim- 
ited education. After arriving at mature 
years, he continued working with his father 
for several years, and on the i8th of June, 
1868, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucinda Lucas, a native of Ogle county, 
Illinois, and a daughter of Annas Lucas, a 
pioneer of that county, who made settle- 
ment there in 1837 and engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. The maiden name of 
Mrs. Sivwiight's grandmother was Susan 
White, and she traces her ancestry back to 
one White who came o\er in the Mayflower. 
Mrs. Lucas has a silver watch brought over 
by her original ancestor. The watch has a 
slip on case showing that it was repaired in 
London in 1600, and has been an heirloom 
in the familj' all these years. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Siv- 
wright commenced their domestic life on 
the old homestead and as the years went 
by he added to the original eighty by pur- 
chasing the interests of other heirs, and he 
has now two hundred and thirteen acres, all 
well improved and valuable land. For 
years he was regarded as one of the most 



enterprising and successful farmers in the 
township. To Mr. and Mrs. Sivwright two 
children were born, Alice and John G. The 
former married Herman Rand, a farmer of 
Mayfield township, while the latter yet re- 
mains at home, and is a student of the 
home schools. Politically Mr. Sivwright 
was formerly a Republican, but on account 
of his interest in the temperance cause he 
has for several years been an advocate and 
an earnest supporter of the Prohibition party. 
He served twenty-three consecutive years 
as justice of the peace, three consecutive 
years as supervisor, and was later re-elec ed 
to the latter office and served two addi- 
tional terms. While on the board he was 
for a time chairman of the committee on 
fees and salaries, and served on the com- 
mittee for equalizing assessments and was 
on other important committees. For sev- 
eral years he served as township trustee. 
He has always given his support and influ- 
ence to secure good schools and good teach- 
ers. Religiously he is a member of the 
Wesleyan Methodist church, with which he 
has been connec'.ed for forty years. His 
wife is also a member of that body and for 
some years they were very active in the 
church work. A well-known resident of 
Mayfield township, he is highly respected 
for his many excellent qualities and his de- 
sire to be always found in the right. 



ABRAHAM D. GRAVES is the owner 
of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 30, Franklin township. He 
is a native of Maine, born April 25, 1826, 
and is the son of Nathaniel and Anna J. 
(Young) Graves, the former a native of 
Massachusetts and the latter of Lewiston, 
Maine. Thej' were the parents of nine 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



children: Abraham 1)., Andrew J., Jnlia 
L., Julius H., Anna Augusta, Elvira T., 
Vesta A., Hannah, and Nathaniel Frank- 
lin. The paternal grandfather, Nathaniel 
Graves, was also a native of Massachusetts, 
and by trade was a l)lacksmith. He moved 
to .Maine in 1790, where his death occurred 
at the age of si.xty years. The maternal 
grandfather. Rev. Abraham D. Young, was a 
nati\e of Maine, a farmer and minister in 
the Christian church. T!ie Graves are of 
English descent, and were early settlers in 
.\n I erica. 

In his native state our subject spent his 
boyhood and youth, and received a limited 
education in the common schools. In 1845 
he camt; to Illinois H'ith his parents, who 
stopped in ISoone county till the following 
spring. In 1846 he accompanied them to 
Ogle count}-, and in 1848 came with them 
to De Kalb county, when they located on 
the farm where he yet resides Nathaniel 
Graves, the father, was for years a prom- 
inent citi;«en of Franklin township, where 
he served as road commissioner and in 
other local offices. He is still living at the 
age of ninety-seven years. After coming 
to Illinois our subject followed teaching 
for about twelve years, receiving at first a 
compensation of ten dollars per month. 
That salary was obtained during the winters 
of 1845-6. On the 13th c.f .\pril, 1850. he 
married Miss Salina L. Churchill, a iiati\c 
of New York and a daughti-r of 01i\er and 
Pantha L. (Andrews') Churchill, both na- 
tives of New York, and who were the par- 
ents of six children, the first dying in in- 
fanc\'. The others were Salina, Stephen 
D., Charles C, Edwin and Darwin. Of 
these Stephen D. and Darwin are deceased. 
To our subject and wife eight children weri' 
born, Eveline S., Fred E., Pantha L., 



Charles S., Nathaniel .\., Amos C, Bert E. 
and John. 

For abont live years, after coming to 
De Kalb county, Mr. Graxes engaged in 
breaking prairie during the spring and sum- 
mer seasons and iollowed teaching during 
the winter. He then followed farming and 
teaching for some years, but ot late has 
gi\'en his time exxlusivel}' to his farming 
operations. His farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres is always kept under the highest 
state of cultivation, and shows that it is 
controlled by a master mind. In politics 
he is an ardent Republican, and has served 
as township assessor one year, township 
clerk ten years, and township treasurer six- 
teen years. He is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. In ever\' position 
called upon to hll, he has discharged the 
duties to the entire satisfaction of those in- 
terested. 



NORMAN C. WARREN, residing in the 
city o{ Syc.uiiore, was born in thi' 
town of Jordanville, Herkimer county. New 
York, June y, 1835. His father, Russell 
Warren, was born in the town of \\'arren, 
Herkimer county. New York, February 4, 
1799. He married Sophia H. Cleland, also 
a native of New York, born June 14, 1 79S. 
Their marriage was solemnized February 6, 
iSiS. She was a daughter of Noinian ami 
Wealth}' Cleland. Her death occurred 
March 30, 1837. Russell Warren was by 
occupation a farmer, and in politics he was 
a stanch Whig. He died in Jordanville, 
New York, October i, 1850 He was the 
son of Lemuel \^'ar^en, a f.irmei born March 
2.3. '769, and who married Rachel Wodell. 
To Russell and Sophia H. Warren six chil- 
dren were born, four daughters and two 




N. C. WARREN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



335 



sons, viz.: Wealthy M.. J. Albert, Harriet 
A., Francis C, Marrietta S., of wIkjiii our 
subject was the last, and is now the onl> 
one living. 

The subject of this sketch grew to ivian- 
hood in his native- state, and at Charlotte- 
\ille, Schoharie county, New York, and at 
Cooperston, Otsego county, received his 
education. In his youth he commenced 
clerking in a store in Herkimer county, at 
which occupation he continued until the 
fall of 1855, when he came to Sycamore 
and went into the grocer}' business, continu- 
ing in that line until 1862, at the same time 
dealing in boots and shoes. He then went 
into the produce business, which proved un- 
usually successful. He continued in that 
business until about 1886, and had an in- 
tei'est in a hardware business at the same 
time under the firm name of "Warren & Ell- 
wood which he later sold. 

Mr. Warren was married in Sycamore, 
May 8, 1862, to Miss Addie B. Brown, a na- 
tive of Sycamore and a daughter of Charles 
and Caroline (Uodgej Brown, the former a 
native of German Flats, Herkimer county. 
New York, born Januar\- 14, 181 3, and who 
died in Sycamore Jul}' 9, 1S95. (Seesketch 
of Charles Brown on another page of this 
work.) By this union one son was born, 
Albert S. , who attended the Sycamore 
schools, finishing his education at the Fari- 
bault, Minnesota, Military College and Be- 
loit College, at IJeloit, Wisconsin. He is 
at present residing in St. Louis, Missouri, 
in the employ of the Crane Manufacturing 
Company, manufacturers of elevators and 
agricultural implements. 

Since 1886 Mr. Warren has in a meas- 
ure retired from active business tint still has 
interests in various lines, being at present 
the president of the Hughes County liank 



in Blunt, South Dakota, where he also owns 
fifteen hundred acres of l\nc farming lands. 
He has also a line lariii near Sycamore, to 
which he gives i)ersonal attention. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican, and although he 
takes an active interest in political affairs 
he has had no desire for office holding, but, 
however, he was once prevailed upon to 
serve two years as alderman from his ward. 
For nearl}' half a century Mr. Warren 
has been a resident of De Kalb county. 
Coming in his youth and with but little 
capital, with a persistence born of a resolute 
purpose, he has succeeded well in life. As 
a business man he has ever been enterpris- 
ing, and has almost intuitively been able to 
foresee the situation and be upon the right 
side of the market. 



REUBEN J. HOLCOMB, e.\-sheriff, and 
now deputy sheriff of De Kalb county, 
was born in the town of Machias, Catta- 
raugus county. New York. September 27, 
1839, and came to De Kalb county. Illinois, 
with his parents in 1S42. 'Ihere were 
seven families in the party coming through 
from New York and they were si.x weeks 
on the road, arriving on the i6tli ol June. 
Notwithstanding his tender age, many inci- 
dents of the trip are remembered by our 
subject. At the time of his arrival there 
were onlv six or seven houses in Sycamore. 
The Holcomb family in America trace 
their descent to Thomas Holcomb, who 
came from London, England, to America 
about two hundred and fifty years ago. 
Orator Holcomb, the grandfather of our 
subject, was born in Danbury, Connecticut. 
He married Hannah Terry, also ;i native of 
Connecticut, and shortly after their mar- 
riage they moved to Erie county. New 



336 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



York, and later, in 1805, to the town of Can- 
andagua, Genesee county, New York, 
where he reared a large family. He catnc 
west in 1842 with his sons and shortly aft- 
erwards died, being the first to be interred 
in the new Sycamore ceineterj'. He died 
at the age of seventy-five years. Shortl}' 
after his death his wife returned to New 
York, where later her death occurred. 

Fleming Holcomb, the father of our 
subject, was born in Genesee county. New 
York, and there married Louisa Stone, a 
native of Pollett, Vermont, and a daughter 
of Hiram and Ann (Long) Stone. They be- 
came the parents of seven children, four of 
whom are yet living. Maurice, who at one 
time ser\ed as sheriff of De Kalb county, 
now resides in Fargo, North Dakota. 
Reuben ]. is the subject of this sketch. 
Orator S., who is also an ex-sheriff of De 
Kalb county, makes his home in Sycamore, 
lillen is no\\- the wife of Arthur M. Start, 
and they now reside in Chicago. One son, 
Lynus, was killed at the battle of Averys- 
boro. North Carolina, during the Civil war. 

ISy trade b'leming Holcomb was a 
shoemaker, which occupation he followed 
in connection with farming, during almost 
his entire life. In coming to Illinois, it was 
liis intention to engage in farming, but as 
money was scarce in this new country, he 
made his trade a source of revenue by 
manufacturing boots and shoes for the set- 
tlers. He continued to work at his trade 
until his family insisted on his abandoning 
it by reason of his feeble health. He was 
a man of strong will and kept working at 
his bench long after lie should have aban- 
doned it. On arriving in De Ralb county, 
he purchased a claim of one hundred and 
twenty acres, eighty acres of which he held 
until his death. In politics he was a Re- 



publican, and religiously a Universalist in 
belief and a regular attendant at church. A 
strong temperance man, he was for some 
time associated with the Good Templars. 
During his entire life it is said that he was 
never guilty of using profane language. 
He died at the age of fifty-five years. 

The subject of this sketch attended the 
district schools until the age of fourteen 
years, in addition to which he attended one 
term at a select school in Sycamore, under 
Dr. Woodward. When of age, he took a 
trip through central Illinois, in search of a 
better location, but found none better than 
De Kalb county. Returning to Sycamore, 
he clerked in a store until the fall of 1861, 
and spent the following winter at school. 
In the spring of 1862 he engaged as a clerk 
in a grocer}' store, where he remained until 
the August following, when he enlisted in 
Company A. One Hundred and Fifth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into 
the service at Dixon, Illinois, and later 
sent to Chicago, where the regiment drilled 
for a few weeks. It was then sent to Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, and joined in the race after 
Morgan's cavalry. His first battle was at 
Burnt Hickory, Georgia. With his regi- 
ment he was then in the Atlanta campaign 
and with .Sherman on the march to the sea 
He was at Raleigh, North Carolina, when 
Lee surrendered. The regiment was then 
ordered to Washington and was in the 
grand review. It was mustered out at Chi- 
cago in |uly, 1805. Before being discharged 
our subject received permission to come 
home and sec his father who was then lying 
very ill. He returned to Chicago where he 
was discharged and again returned home, 
his father dying a few weeks after. 

lust previous to his enlistment, un the 
27th of .August, 1862, at Sjcatnore, Illinois, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



337 



Mr. Holcomb was united in marriage witli 
Miss Corinna Boardman, who was born near 
Dundee, Kane county, Illinois, and a daugh- 
ter of Daniel and Tryphena (Mason) Board- 
man. By this union five children have been 
born, of whom Charles, the first born, and 
Zada B. and Bertie F. are deceased. Jessie 
M. married George P. Fulkerson, a machin- 
ist in the sewing machine factory at Bel- 
videre, Illinois. Minerva E. is housekeeper 
for her father. 

On coming home from the service, Mr. 
Holcomb worked for a lumber firm in Syca- 
more un:il the spring of 1866, when he en- 
gaged in the lumber trade himself, in which 
he continued until the fall of 1867, when 
he became deputy in the sheriff's oftice 
under his brother. He served as deputy 
under each succeeding sheriff until he him- 
self was elected to the office in 1-872. He 
was re-elected in 1874, 1876 and 1878, since 
which time he has ser\ed as deputy, with 
the exception of one term when Mr. Ost- 
rander was sheriff. He is one of the best 
posted men in the county, and has been 
over every mile of road in every township, 
knows all the leading men in the county, and 
during his long term of thirty-one years in the 
sheriff's officehas made many friends. He is a 
detective of recognized ability and has run 
to earth many criminals. At one time he 
was employed by the authorities in Te.xas 
to take charge of a case, bringing a mur- 
derer to justice. He went to Wyoming and 
as a cowboy traveled over the territory, 
found his man, arrested and took him back 
\\here he was tried and convicted. 



WILLIAM B, WEDDELL is now liv- 
ing a retired life in the village of 
KoUo, De Kalb county. He is a native of 



Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, born 
March 8, 1824, and is a son of Jesse Wed- 
dell, a native of the same county and state, 
born in 1778, and who was a soldier, in the 
war of 1812. The paternal grandfather, 
Peter Weddell, was also a native of Penn- 
sylvania, locating in Westmoreland county 
in 1757. The W'eddell family were early 
settlers of eastern Pennsylvania, where 
Peter Weddell spent the greater part of his 
time in hunting. Jesse Weddell was reared 
in W^estmoreland county, and there married 
Nancy Davis, also a native of that county. 
He was a prominent farmer in Westmore- 
land county, where he was well known. In 
the fall of 1 83 1 he moved to Elkhart 
county, Indiana, becoming one of the first 
settlers of that county. In 1828 he came 
west looking for a location, and was on the 
present site of Chicago. Liking that coun- 
try better, he settled in Elkhart county, 
Indiana, and there died in 1838, when our 
subject was a lad of fourteen years. After 
his death the widow reared the family and 
gave them the best opportunity for advance- 
ment in life that the country afforded. 
They were the parents of five sons and four 
daughters, all of whom, with the e.vception 
of the youngest son, growing to man and 
womanhood. Of these, two sons and two 
daughters are yet living, James E. resides 
in Elkhart county, Indiana. Agnes Hedges 
resides in Aspen, Colorado. Mrs. Elizabeth 
Barnard resides in Georgetown, Colorado. 
William B. is the subject of this review. 

William B. Weddell was reared in Elk- 
hart county, Indiana, and there remained 
until 1850, when he came to De Kalb 
county and purchased the land where he 
now resides, entering two hundred and forty 
acres with a land warrant. After making 
his location he returned to Elkhart county 



338 



THE BIOC.KAI'HICAL RECORD. 



and there iDurrieil, January 2, 1850, Agnes 
G. \'ail. a native of Fayette county, Penn- 
sylvania, and a daughter of Charles and 
Nancy (Jeffries; Vail, both of whom were 
also natives of Fayette county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and early settlers of Elkhart count}', 
Indiana. Soon after his marriage Mr. Wed- 
dell settled in De Kalb county and built a 
small house, which in due time gave place 
to a more pretentious one. From time to 
time he added to his possessions until he 
was the owner of four hundred and forty 
acres, all in one farm, and was one of the 
most active farmers and stock raisers in De 
I\alb county. On his farm he laid out the 
village of Rollo and has since built a large, 
neat and substantial residence, in which the 
family now reside. 

Mrs. Weddell died November 16, 1881, 
leaving three children. Nancy Ann is the 
wife of E. B. I-'owers, a farmer of Paw Paw 
township. Charles \'. is one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of the township and owns 
and operates a farm adjoining that of his 
father. Mrs. Elma .■\gnes Eraser is a widow 
residing in Rollo Mr. Weddell has one great- 
grandson, Mefflin C. Bullis, born May 13, 
1898, in Paw Paw township, De Kalb county. 
VvT his second wife Mi. W'eddell, October 
29, iS8<j, married Mrs. Cleora Burns, //<V 
Hyde, a native of Vermont. Her father, 
Jonathan Hyde, was also a native of \er- 
mont, born at I->ennington, of English an- 
cestry, the family dating back to William 
Hyde, whcj settled in Connecticut in 1637, 
and died in Norwich, that state. Jonathan 
Hyde married Phebe P. Fillmore, a native 
of Norwich, Connecticut. They were mar- 
ried in Clinton county, New York, but after 
their marriage resided in \'ermont a num- 
ber of years, but in 1 8 ;; 5 relnrncd to Clin- 
ton count}'. New V'liik, where the}' remaineii 



until 1845 <i"d then came west and in 1846 
settled in Paw Paw township, De Kalb 
county, where he spent the last years of his 
life, dying about 1864. He was a promi- 
nent man in this count}' and held several 
local positions of trust and honor. Mrs. 
Weddell was educated in Chazy, Clinton 
count}. New \'ork, where she engaged in 
teaching. She came to Illinois in 1847, 
where she continued teaching for about 
three years. In 1S49 she gave her hand in 
marriage to Thomas Burns, who was an 
early settler from Cayuga county, New York. 
He entered land and opened up a farm in 
Paw Paw township and there renrained until 
1852, when he removed to California, tak- 
ing the overland route. He located in El- 
dorado county, and for some years en- 
gaged in mining and fruit raising. He died 
there in 1875. They were the parents of 
si.\ children. Ellen Cleora died at the age 
of eighteen years. Mary C. is the wife of 
Charles Worth, of Aurora, Illinois. Thomas 
Elliott died at the age of eighteen years. 
Agnes is the wife of Charles Goeble, of 
California. Margaret is the wife of Will- 
iam Shry, of California. Robert Simeon 
married, and now resides in Paw. Paw town- 
ship. After residing in California for thirt}' 
years, in 1882, Mrs. Burns returned to De 
Kalb county, and as stated was united in 
marriage with Mr. Weddell. 

Politically Mr. Weddell was orit;inallya 
W hig, and cast his first presidential vote for 
Zacliary 'l"ayK)r. He sujiported Fremont in 
1856 and has since been an earnest advo- 
cate of Republican principles. He has 
never desired official position, but served 
twelve years as a commissioner of high- 
wavs. In the lall nf iSf)_', ni company 
with his wile, he made a trip In California 
and ()regon. wluMe the}' spent about two 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



339 



months visitiiij,' on the Pacific slope. Tlicy 
iire both active members of Iht; Rolio Cou- 
f,'re^ational church, Mr. Weddeli being^ one 
o( the original members when the church 
was or<:;anized in 1864. He was one of the 
trustees of the church and <jave the lot on 
which the house of worship was erected. 
He was made a Master Mason about 1863, 
at Paw Paw, and is now an Ancient Mason. 
l>oth he and his wife are held in the highest 
esteem by all who know them. 



SHUBAEL TERRY ARMSTRONG. 
circuit clerk of De Kalb count}-, was 
born in Chautauqua county. New York, De- 
cember 14, 1834, and is the son of Dr. 
Thomas and Johanna fTerry) Armstrong, 
both of Washington county. New York. 
David Armstrong, the paternal grandfather, 
was a native of the North of Ireland, born 
in 1763. Became to America in 1800, and 
here married Elizabeth Creighton in Amer- 
ica, but of Scotch parentage. He died in 
De Kalb count)-, at the age of ninety-eight 
years. All through his life he followed the 
\'ocation of a farmer. Thomas Armstrong, 
the father, was born May 8, 1806. Graduat- 
ing from the Medical College of l>uffalo, 
New York, he practiced his profession dur- 
ing the remainder of his life. While yet 
residing in New York, he served in the 
United States volunteers to prevent Ameri- 
cans from joining the insurgents during the 
patriot war in Canada. His wife. Johanna 
Terry, was a daughter of Shubael and Re- 
becca (Hathaway) Terry, who lived to be 
si.\ty-six and eightj'-eight years respect- 
ively. The Terrys first came to America 
in 16G0 and passed with honor through the 
colonial period, some of whom doubtlessly 
took an active part in the colonial wars. 



Dr. Armstrong died in Sandwich, Illi- 
nois, in October, 1888, at the age of eighty- 
two years. His wife died when but sixty- 
si.\ years old. 

Shortly after the birth of our subject, 
the family moved to Erie county. New \'ork, 
where they lived until he was seventeen 
years old. After attending the common 
schools in Erie county, he finished his edu- 
cation in the academies at Springville and 
Fredonia, New \'ork. In 1852 the family 
removed to Rock councy, Wisconsin. ]>v 
lake they went from Buffalo to Detroit on 
the first passenger trip of the famous 
steamer, Lady Elgin, that later went down 
on Lake Michigan, with her hundreds of 
passengers. From Detroit they went to 
Chicago on the first passenger train running 
into that city from the east. From Chicago 
they went to Milw-aukee by lake, thence to 
Rock county by wagon. In the family of 
Dr. and Mrs. Armstrong were six children, 
four of whom are now living: William, liv- 
ing in Hickory county, Missouri; Shubael 
T. , our subject; David, living in Kansas City, 
.Missouri; and Anna, wife of Solon White, 
of Sandwich, Illinois. 

The subject of this sketch remained at 
home until his marriage, in Rock county, 
Wisconsin, December 14, 1855. to Miss 
Eunice E. Richardson, a native of Catta- 
raugus county, New York, and a daughter 
of John K. and Eunice Thompson (Curtis) 
Richardson, the former born in Washington 
county. New York, July 29. 1799. He was 
a carpenter and joiner by trade, and came 
west during the early settlement of Wiscon- 
sin, locating in Rock county. He was a 
Universalist in religious belief. During the 
war of 1S12 he served his country faithfully 
and well. His death occurred September 
15, 1876. He was the son of David Rich- 



340 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ardson, who died of tvphoid fever in 1813, 
at the age of seventy-seven years. The 
wife of the latter was a Miss Sweetland, 
who died in 1820. Eunice Thompson Cur-, 
tis was born near Bennington, \'ermont, in 
1805, and died in Rock county, Wisconsin, 
at the age of eighty-one years. She was 
the daughter of Zerubabel Curtis, N\hii 
settled in an early day near the village of 
Malone, New York, that place now cover- 
ing the site of his old farm. Zerubabel Cur- 
tis married Esther Thompson, a native of 
Scotland, who attained the age of ninetj- 
eight years. He also served in the war of 
1S12, and was in the battle of Plattsburg. 

Soon after his marriage, Mr. Armstrong 
moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he 
engaged in railr(jading and civil engineering 
for the Northwestern Railway and the Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul l^ailroad. In 
1 861 he went to California, as mining engi- 
neer and was employed at the famous Com- 
stock mine, the Reese Ri%er mine and other 
noted mines. In December, 1864, he re- 
turned to Rock county, Wisconsin, where 
he remained until 1868, and then moved to 
Milan township, De Kalb county, Illinois, 
where he engaged in farming for four years, 
teaching school during the winter months. 
In 1872 he mo\ed to Sycamore, where he 
engaged in surveying and railioad civil en- 
gineering. He also ser\ed for a considera- 
ble length of time as deputy county clerk 
and deputy county treasurer. In 1890 he 
was elected circuit clerk and re-elected in 
1892 and 1S94, a position which he still 
holds, to the satisfaction of every one hav- 
ing business with the office. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong seven chil- 
dren have been born. Hattie G. is the wife 
of Albert A. Bishop, of Sibley, Iowa. Lo- 
retta May is an artist of fine ability and a 



teacher in the art department at Waterman 
Hall. In the summer of 1898 she studied 
in the College of Design in Chicago, and 
also under private teachers. Anna is de- 
ceased. Elizabeth is the wife of Harry H. 
E\eritt, now of Chicago, who was for a 
number of years a teacher of physical cult- 
ure in the State University at Champaign, 
Illinois. Carlotta is the wife of Park Rich- 
mond, a business man of Chicago. Nevada 
is serving as deputy under her father in the 
office of circuit court. Arthur is deceased. 
Politically Mr. Armstrong has been a 
life-long Republican, having attained his 
majority in time to cast his vote for* the first 
presidential nominee of the party, General 
John C. Fremont. Fraternally he is a mem- 
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, holding membership with the subordi- 
nate lodge, encampment, and uniformed 
rank of Patriarchs Militant. He is also a 
member of the Masonic fraternity and has 
always taken a prominent part in conferring 
the degrees, being an e.xcellent lecturer. 
As an official he is always accommodating 
and ever ready to confer a favor upon any 
one having business with the office. As a 
citizen he is enterprising and his friends are 
man\- throughout De Kalb county and 
where\'er known. 



GEORGE J. MAURER, who is a retired 
farmer residing in the village of Malta, 
was born in Germany October 13, 1835, 
and is the son of Frederick and Christine 
Maurer, both of whom were natives of Ger- 
man}-, where they resided until death. They 
were people of respectability and worthy of 
the esteem they enjoyed. The former 
died in 1840 and the latter in 1853. She 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



34* 



was his second wife and our subject was 
second in order of birth by the last union. 

George J. Maurer remained at home in 
his native land until seventeen years of age, 
in the meantime receiving a fairly good edu- 
cation, and learning the trade of shoe- 
maker, w^hich he followed more or less at 
various times after his emigration to Amer- 
ica in 1852. He left Germany October 6, 
of that year, by way of Havre, France, and 
arrived in New York forty-seven days later. 
He then went to Rome, Oneida county. 
New York, where his brother, John, was 
then residing, and there remained three 
years, si.\ months of which time he worked 
at his trade. In 1855 he came west and 
located in Pierce township, De Kalb county, 
Illinois, where he turned his attention to 
agricultural pursuits. In 1856 he went to 
Big Rock township, I-iane county, Illinois, 
where he engaged in farming two years, 
then returned to De Kalb county, where he 
spent two years in Clinton township. In 
1866 he purchased eighty acres of land, 
which he improved and on which he re- 
sided for a number of years, selling the 
same to Thomas Delbridge in 1863. The 
same year he purchased one hundred and 
thirty acres, to which twelve years later he 
added forty-eight acres, making him a valu- 
able farm which he now owns on section 5, 
Malta township. 

On December 20, 1862, Mr. Maurer 
married Miss Mar\' Deily, born in Cook 
county, Illinois, January 13, 1841, and a 
daughter of John and Barbara Deily, both 
of whom were natives of Germany, who 
came to this country with their respective 
parents about 1830. Her father was born 
June II, 1 8 16, and died in 1846, while her 
mother was born in 18 19, and is still living. 
By this union six children were btjrn. of 



whom four are yet living: Frank E., Ida 
M., Helen and Arthur B. The latter i^ 
now in Cuba engaged in the Spanish-.'\meri- 
can war. The deceased children were 
Philip and Elizabeth B. 

Mr. and Mrs. Maurer are members of 
the German Ii\'angelical church, but attend 
the Methodist lipiscopal church in Malta, 
there being no church of their choice at 
that place. They are worthy people and 
held in high esteem. Mr. Maurer is a hrst- 
class farmer in every respect, and all that 
he has he acquired by hard work, economy 
and honesty. He is truly a self-made man. 



GEORGE CLARK, a retired farmer, is 
now residing in the city of De Kalb, 
where he is serving as justice of the peace. 
He is one of the few living pioneers of the 
county, which has been his home since 1842, 
a period of fifty-six long years. He was born 
at Royalton, Windsor county, Vermont, 
December iG, 1832, and is the son of 
.Arunah and Clarissa (Robinson) Clark, both 
of whom were also natives of Vermont. By 
trade Arunah Clark was a carpenter, and in 
his younger days followed that vocation. 
With his family he removed west in 1842, 
and settled in De Kalb township, De Kalb 
county, Illinois, where he purchased one 
hundred and seventy-one acres of land in its 
natural state, but which had been settled 
on by a "squatter" before it was surveyed 
by the general government. While the 
squatter had no legal claim, his right was 
always respected to the extent of his im- 
provements, and he received a recompense 
to that amount. The father made many 
improvements on the land, but it was left 
to his son, the subject of this sketch, to 
make it complete. He was a highly re- 



34 



Ai 



THI 



I ;iOGRAPHICAL KliCORD. 



l"i;S|iiTtc(l mail in the roniiiuinity, and was 
honored by l>cii)j4 elected justice of the 
peace, as well as to other township offices, 
.ill of which lie filled in the most creditable 
manner. He died from the effects of a fall 
in iS6,S, when in his eighty-second year. 
His wife's death occurred in the following 
year. He was twice married and had seven 
children by the two marriages, our subject 
being the second by the last union. 

George Clark was but ten years of age 
uhen he accompanied his parents to I)e 
Ivalb county, and in the schools of De Kalb 
and Sycamore he obtained his education. 
When old enough to labor upon the farm 
he was given his daily task, and continued 
to assist in the cultivation of the home farm 
until after he attained his majority, when 
he took full control of the place. The 
father enjoyed life, remaining on the old 
home, while the son bore all the responsi- 
bilities. He thus passed his life peacefully 
and quietly away, as already stated. 

The experience of our subject is much 
;is other earh' settlers of De Kalb county. 
He well remembers seeing the Indians on 
their ponies passing along the trail that led 
by the farm, while their arrow-heads and 
other implements of war and hunting are 
found ill abundance on his farm. He was 
united in marriage I-'ebruarx 18, 1S58, with 
Miss Sarah J. Cartwright, a native of I^e 
Kalb county, l)orn in 1841,011 what is now 
the county farm, but which at that time be- 
longed to her father, James Cartwright, one 
of the pioneers of De Kalb county. By this 
union two children have been born: James A. 
and Florence ]. The former is a practic- 
ing physician and surgeon at Chicago. The 
latter, after taking a full course at Normal, 
Illinois, has been teaching school in De Kalb. 

After residing upon his farm for fifty 



years, in 1892 Mr. Clark reiiiovtd to the 
city of De Kalb, where he enjoys the full 
confidence of his fellow citizens, who have 
elected him to the office of the justice of 
the peace. Politically he is a Republican, 
and is a firm believer in the principles of 
the party. His long residence in De Kalb 
ct)Lnit\' has brought him in contact with 
nianx' -of its best citizens, and wherever best 
known he is the most highly esteemed. 



SAMUEL H. STILES is a retired farmer 
and capitalist residing in Genoa. He 
was horn in the town of Naples, Ontario 
county, New \'ork, |anuary 5, 1829, and is 
the son of Epaphroditiis and Ro.xanna (Lin- 
coln) Stiles, the latter born near Saratoga, 
New ^'ork, and a daughter of Henry Lin- 
coln, who participated in the taking of 
Fort Ticonderoga. Epaphroditus Stiles 
was a large farmer and merchant, who had 
studied law and engaged to some extent in 
local practice. For many years he was a 
justice of the peace and held other official 
positions. He died when our subject was 
but five years of age. His father, Samuel 
Stiles, who was of Scotch and English de- 
scent, served in the Rexolutionary war and 
lost a leg in the service. He lived to be a 
ver\^ old man. Of the seven children of the 
parents of our subject, two only are living, 
Samuel H. and Eli/a, wife of J. H. Wood, 
of Salem, Oregon. 

Samuel H. Stiles was reared in his native 
count\',and attended the subscription schools 
at a time when the school-house was built of 
logs, with puncheon floor and benches. 
Teachers were hardly up to the grade now 
re<iuiredand usually received a salary of but 
ten dollars per month. At the age of fifteen 
he began life for himself, working a farm on 




SAMUEL H. STILES. 




MRS. S. H. STILES. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



34; 



shares. In November, 1849, in North Brew- 
ster, New York, he was united in marriage 
with Charlotte Sherratt.a native of Pen Yan, 
New York, whodied in November 1886. The 
newly discovered gold mines of California, 
were then attractinj;' attention throughout 
the whole Country, and with others he was 
taken with the 'gold fever". In the 
spring of 1850, he sold his stock and farm 
implements, and turned all his personal pro- 
perty intfi cash, and started for the Ne^^• 
Eldorado. Going to New York, he was at- 
tracted b}' the handbills of Parker H. 
French, who proposed to conduct a train to 
California by way of Texas, in a very short 
specified time. joining the company of Mr. 
French he started with him, but the e.\pe- 
dition was subjected to repeated delays 
from the beginning. They landed at Ha- 
vana, where they remained one da>'. was 
three days at New Orleans, and one day at 
Galveston, finally reaching Port Lavaca. 
Here instead of finding teams and spring 
wagons as promised, the party had to wait 
until three hundred wild mules were brokeil 
to drive, which consumed three weeks. 
They were then delayed at San Antonio 
three weeks, the Apache Indians outside 
giving them lU) little concern. One delay 
after another occurring, and it being seen 
that their trip would be indefinitely de- 
layed, the party took possession of the 
train, ousting French at the Kio Grand, and 
crossed over into Mexican territory, where 
our subject was robbed of fifty dollars. 
From this time on the sufferings of the 
party were most intense, sufferings through 
which it was almost impossible to come out 
alive. 

Securing a Mexican guide and forty days 
provisions, Mr. Stiles was one of a small 
party who attempted to cross the desert in- 

17 



dependently of the others. Their guide got 
lost, and four days they were without water. 
They made their way back to El Paso, 
Texas, more dead than alive. They did not 
despair, however, but continued their jour- 
ney, traxeling some fourteen hundred miles 
in old Mexico, finally making then- way to 
Mazatland. from which placf they sailed to 
San Francisco, being ten months and seven 
days since leaving New York. He started 
with five hundred dollars and arrived with 
two dollars, one of which he spent for a loaf 
of bread. 

With his cousin Hiram, Mr. Stiles went 
U) church the following Sunday night, and 
when the service was over he stood under 
a street light to see if he could not find 
some familiar face. He did not watch in 
vain, but soon found a friend who took him 
and his cousin to his home, and the next 
day found them work in a store, the pro- 
ceeds of which replenished their depleted 
finances. Rival companies were then run- 
ning boats to Sacramento, and they secured 
passage to the latter place for one dollar. 
From there they worked their passage to 
Marysville, fifty miles further up the river, 
where they secured work. From Marys- 
ville they proceeded to Bidwell Bar, on 
the south fork of Feather river, and from 
there to Onion N'alley. After six months 
hard labor, he felt that he had enough of it, 
and returned home by way of the Isthmus 
of Panama, being seventeen days from San 
Francisco to Panama. From Aspinwall he 
took the steamer Illin(jis, on her first return 
trip to New York. Landing at Norfolk, he 
went from there to Philadelphia, where he 
deposited his gold dust at the mint, receiv- 
ing seven hundred and thirty-five dollars 
and thirty-four cents. 

After a season's recuperating, at his old 



348 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



home, having had the Panama fever, Mr. 
Stiles made a prospecting tour through Illi- 
nois, spending one jear. Returning east, 
he later gave Iowa his attention, but failed 
to tind a desirable location. He then bought" 
a fHrin in Xew York, but in 1855 sold out 
and came to Illincjis for permanent settle- 
ment. He first located in Kingston town- 
ship, Ue Kalb count}', where he yet owns 
three hundred and twent}' acres, one of the 
hi. est improved hirms in the state, with a 
residence larger than most city residences, 
large barns and commodious outbuildings. 
He lived on the farm until the fall of 1884, 
when he removed to Genoa, built a large 
residence, one of the best in the village, 
and is now living retired. He has fruits of 
all kinds in profusion, with fine garden, 
flowers, etc. After the death of his first 
wife, Mr. Stiles was married, December 14, 
1887, to Elizabeth E. Williams, daughter 
of Chet Williams, whose father was a major 
in the Ke\olutionary war. The wife of 
Chet Williams was Miss Sally Harper, who 
died at the age of eighty years. She was 
the daughter of Joseph and Esther (Dean) 
Harper, her father being a soldier in the 
war of 1S12. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stiles are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, at Genoa, and 
the)' take a lively interest in its work. In 
politics he is a Republican, with strong pro- 
hibition leanings. He has held many minor 
township offices, and is regarded as one of 
De Kalb count\ 's most estimable citizens. 



LORENZO DOW EVANS, residing on 
section 2, Sycamore township, has been 
a resident of De Kalb county for more than 
si.xty years. He was born in Ashe county, 
North Carolina, b'ebruary 9, 1834, and is 



the son of Benjamin Evans, also a native of 
Ashe county. North Carolina, born Febru- 
ary 21, 181 I, and who died in Sjcamore 
township, February 5, 1854, while jet in 
the prime of life. He was the son of Will- 
iam and Ala (Mitchell) Evans, the former a 
faithful soldier in the war of 18 12. Benja- 
min Evans married Frances Perry, a daugh- 
ter of William Perry, also a soldier of the 
war of 1812, who married a Miss Dean. 

The fall after the birth of our subject, 
his parents moved to Illinois, coming h\' 
wagon through I'Centucky and Indiana, cross- 
ing the Ohio river at Louisville, Kentucky, 
and the Wabash river at \'incennes, Indi- 
ana. They remained the first winter at 
Hennepin, Putnam county, but decided to 
remove a little farther north, and in the 
spring of 1835 located at Piano, Kendall 
county, where they remained three years. 
They then moved to Charter Grove, De 
Kalb county, and located on the farm now 
occupied b}- James Devine, where they re- 
mained three years, removing from thence 
t'o the Will King farm. At that time there 
were few dwellings to be seen, with the ex- 
ception of log houses. Our subject attend- 
ed school in an old log house, usually dur- 
ing a term of three months in winter. A 
part of the time he walked two and a half 
miles tu the school-house, returning each 
evening. He afterward attended school six- 
weeks in a frame school-hcjuse in Genoa 
township. 

Before Mr. Evans attained his majority 
his father died, leaving him to manage the 
farm. He remained with his mother until 
of age, when part of the farm of si.\ hun- 
dred acres was set off to him for his own 
use. Since 1859 he has lived on his pres- 
ent farm, which comprises one hundred and 
ninety-five acres of prairie land and twenty- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



349 



two and a half acres of timber. The farm 
Has partly in Genoa township. All the im- 
provements now to be seen upon the farm 
were placed by our subject, including the 
large house, barns and outbuildings, wind- 
mill and orchard. He has about two miles 
of tiling. 

Mr. Evans was married in Sycamore 
April 36, 1S57, to Miss Mary jewel, born in 
Ashtabula county, Ohio, March 5, 1S36, 
and who came west with her parents in 
1837. Her father, Eli G. Jewel, a black- 
smith b\' trade, was born in Vermont, but 
spent his boyhood and youth in Cattaraugus 
county, New York, going from thence to 
Ohio, when a young man. From Ohio he 
came to De Kalb countw Illinois, flriving 
through with teams, settling first in the 
country near Sycamore. At that time the 
Indians were still in the country and timid 
mothers were often frightened by their com- 
ing to the house for food and h'elping them- 
selves. Later he moved into Sycamore, 
where he set uj) a forge and for a time 
worked at his trade, but, giving it up, he 
removed near Fort Lincoln, Kansas, settling 
on a farm, where his death occurred in 
1862, at the age of about fifty-six years. 
His wife was Deborah Rockwood, a native 
of Ohio and a daughter of Armah Rock- 
wood. They were the parents of five chil- 
dren, three of whom are living, and of these 
Mrs. Evans was second in order of birth. 
Eli G. Jewel was the son of Joshua and 
Abigail (Gilbert) Jewel, who moved from 
Vermont to Cattaraugus county, New York, 
where he died at the age of seventy-eight 
years. Eli G. Jewel made two trips to 
California, first in 1850, when he crossed 
the plains and returned by sea. His second 
trip was made in 1852, going and coming 
by water. 



To our subject and wife nine children 
have been born, of whom four died in 
infancy. Those growing to maturity are 
Frances, Ma}', Elmer, Leroy and Nellie. 
Elmer married Osia Sellers, living in Genoa, 
and they had two children, Merrill Leroy 
and Ra\' .\drian. Elmer died Julv 8, 1898. 
Leroy is a telegraph operator at Apple 
River, Illinois. In politics Mr Evans is a 
Republican. That he is a friend df the 
public schools is shown from the fact that 
he has been a school director, more or less, 
since attaining his majority. The many 
wonderful changes that have been made in 
De Kalb county since he became a citizen 
can scarcely be realized, even by those who 
have been most active in its transformation. 
Among the pioneers who deser\e credit for 
what has been done I^. Dow Evans stands 
among the first. 



NATHANIEL S. KELLOGG, of Frank- 
lin township, who is actively engaged 
in agricultural pursuits on section 17, was 
born in Pittstield, Massachusetts, July 29, 
1 829. He is a son of John and Sarah (Hub- 
bard) Kellogg, both natives of Massachusetts. 
Of their two children, Nathaniel is our sub- 
ject, and John J. is deceased. The paternal 
great-grandfather Kellogg was a native of 
Scotland, who emigrated to this country 
prior to the Revolutionarj' war. His son, 
Nathaniel Kellogg, Sr. , the grandfather of 
our subject, was a native of Connecticut, a 
farmer by occupation, and was in the Revo- 
lutionary war. John Kellogg, the father, 
was for some years adjutant-general of the 
state milita, of Massachusetts, and was act- 
ively engaged in the Civil war. In 1838, 
he came west with his family, and located 
near Pekin, Tazewell countw Illinois. He 



350 TH1-: BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 

later returned to Massachusetts, but being goods manufactory, for two years, through 

dissatisfied came again to Illinois and set- Dakota, Xebr;iska and Iowa, and for a 

tied in Tazewell countj', where he remained clothing firm in Rockford, five years, and 

about two \ears. He then removed to Mc- for a Beloit, Wisconsin, cloihinf^ lirm, two 

Lean count}', Illinois, and ran a general- vears. Among various political offices that 

store for about twenty-five years. He was he has held are those of school director and 

quite a prominent man in McLean count\\ road commissioner. In politics he is a Re- 

and was justice of the peace for tliirt\-thrt'f publican, a strong bclif\er in the principlt-s 

years, being the oldest justice of the peace of the part)-. It is, iiowever, as an agri- 

in the state. He died at the age of eighty- culturalist that he is best known, his farm 

six years. being aiwaj's kept in gooti condition and 

Nathaniel S. Kellogg was reared and under a high state of cultivation. 
educated in Massachusetts. After receiving 
his primary education, he entered the col- 
lege at Leno.v, Massachusetts, and pursued T~)KIGH.\M F. BE.MIS, deceased, was 



B' 



a three years course. He then taught one LJ one ot De Kalb township's most worthy 

term in Massachusetts, after which he came citizens, who in life resided on his farm in 

to Illinois, in 1^45, and located in Dele\aii section 33. He was a native of Massachu- 

township, Tazewell county, Illinois, where setts, born May 25, 1829, and was the son 

he purchased a farm of one hundred and of Benjamin ISemis, who followed farming 

si.xtj' acres. In I1S55, he bought six bun- during his entire life and who never came 

dred and forty acres in McLean county, in west. His death and tli.it of his wife oc- 

section 22, town 22, a tract of government curred in the east. The boyhood and youth 

land, for which he paid about fifteen dollars of our subject were spent in his native state, 

per acre. That land he sold in the fall of and his education was received in the public 

1864. schools. He was an early settler of Kane 

On the jth of November, 1S47. Mr. county, Illinois, locating at Sugar Grove, 

Kellogg was united in marriage with Miss Kane countw where he lived some years. 

Alma L. Baird, a native of Becket, Massa- engaging in (arming. In 1856, he came to 

chusetts, and a daughter of Kendall and De Kalb ci unity, Illinois, and purchased a 

Lucinda (Chaffeei Baird, both of whom farm of fifty acres in section 33, De Kalb 

were also natives of Becket, Massachusetts, township, upon which his widow now lives, 

and the parents nf six children. Prentice C. , On the 27th of M.irch, 1855, Mr, Bemis 

Aba, Alma L., Fred K., Kate and George was united in marria'^e with Miss Elizabeth 

K. To our subject and wife three children Duffy, a native of Ohio, born in 1830, and 

were born, John K.. Kate L. and Pren- a daughter of James and Lydia Duffy. Her 

tice F. mother died when she was but three years 

Since his marriage Mr. Kellogg has been old, and her father marrying again, removed 

engaged in various lines of business. For a to Illinois, in 1841, where his death oc- 

time he was in the butcher business and a curred in 1S73. He was married three 

dealer in stock in Rockford. He then times, and had sixteen children, Mrs. Bemis 

traveled for a St. Joseph, Missouri, woolen being third in order of birth by the first 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1>| 



wife. She was but eleven years of age 
when she came to De Kalb county, and 
here her entire life has since been spent. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Beniis five children were 
born, four of whom are now living: Frank 
W., Frederick J.. William W. and Burt 
P. Two of these sons are prosperous busi- 
ness men in De Kalb. 

For some years prior to his death Mr. 
Bemis was in ill health. In 1882 he took a 
trip to Florida, to regain his lost vigor, but 
his trip was without avail, death coming to 
his relief, on April 5, of the same year, in 
Jacksonville, Florida. Fraternally he was 
a Mason in good standing and lived up to 
the principles taught by that ancient and 
worthy order. Politically he was a Repub- 
lican. A loving husband, an indulgent 
father, and a worthy citizen, who treated 
his neighbors kindly, his death was sincerely 
mourned by all. 



IRA EVANS, who resides on section 2, 
Sycamore township, was born in Charter 
Grove within a few rods of his present res- 
idence on the old homestead, where his par- 
ents, Benjamin and Frances (Perry) Evans, 
settled in the fall of 1838, his birth occur- 
ring January 18, 1841. His parents were 
natives of Ashe county, North Carolina. 
While they considered the Old North state 
m many respects a desirable place to live, 
they yet believed that the opportunities for 
advancement and for the further improve- 
men of their children would be much greater 
in the Prairie state, and they therefore deter- 
mined to make this their home. Leaving 
theirnative state with what has been termed 
a prairie schooner, they passed through the 
states of Kentucky and Indiana, and in the 
fall of 1834 made a stop at Hennepin, Put- 



nam county. Illinois, where thes remained 
a few months, going from thence to Piano, 
Kendall county, finally locating in Sycamore 
township, where they made a permanent 
settlement. Selecting a tract of land in 
section 3, they commenced its improve- 
ment, and at the death of the father, which 
occurred early in the '50s, he was the owner 
of six hundred acres of fine land, the great 
part of which was under cultivation. 

Our subject was but a boy when his fa- 
ther died, and he remained with his mother 
until after he reached his majority, assisting 
in the cultivation of the home farm. His 
education was obtained principally in the 
old log school-house, with its primitive fur- 
niture and massive fire place. He was mar- 
ried July 20. 1862, to Miss Nancy Divine, 
eldest daughter of Eleazer and Sallie A. 
(Sherbey) Divine, an extended account of 
whom appears elsewhere in this work. She 
was born in Sullivan county. New York, in 
the town of Grahamville, but came with her 
parents to De Kalb county when a child, 
and here grew to womanhood. By this 
union two children were born, Milton D. 
and Luella. 

Immediately after marriage Mr. Evans 
began farming on one hundred and sixty- 
two acres, section 2, Sycamore township, 
his portion of his father's estate. He there 
still continues to reside, and there his chil- 
dren were born. Many improvements have 
been made upon the place since it came into 
his possession, including the present fine 
modern frame house of tasteful architecture. 
In politics he is an earnest Republican, and 
has served as road commissioner three 
years and for many years was school direct- 
or. A life long resident of De Kalb county, 
he has gone in and out among the people 
doing the work at hand cheerfully and well, 



352 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and is one of the few living pioneers who 
have witnessed the change in the country 
from H vast wilderness to the most product- 
ive section of the union. 



PHILLIP F. PLAPP, a farmer residing 
on section 28. Malta township, De 
Kalb county, Illinois, was born in Pierce 
township, this county, March 17, 1855, and 
is the son of Jacob P. and Elizabeth B. 
Plapp, both of whom were natives of Ger- 
many. Jacob Plapp came to this country 
when he was about eighteen years of age, 
while his wife accompanied her parents to 
this country in 1830, when she was but 
eleven years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Plapp 
first located in Ohio, and later came to De 
Kalb county. Illinois, settling in Pierce 
township, where he died in 1885. His wife 
survives him at the age of eighty-three 
years. In their family were eleven children, 
nine of whom are yet living. 

Phillip F. Plapp grew to manhood in his 
native township and was educated in its 
public schools. When he reached his ma- 
jority he began to work out on farms, and 
built for himself a reputation for honesty 
and industry, two principles which he has 
observed all through life, and which must be 
the warp and woof of every successful en- 
terprise. On November 4, 18S0, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Lucy A. Del- 
bridge, born in De Kalb, May 14, i860, and 
a daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Collmore) 
Delbridge. By this union ii\e children 
have been born; Aithia M., October 8, 
1881 ; Alfred E., January 17, 1885, and who 
died in April of the same year; Winifred V. , 
Februar_\' 14, 1886; Mabel E. , September 
19, 1888, and Clarence T., December 21, 
1 890. 



On January i, 1883, Mr. Plapp bought 
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 
Ogle county, where he resided for fourteen 
years. During his residence there he suc- 
ceeded by the practice of hard labor and 
economy, in accumulating a nice sum, be- 
sides improving his farm, enabling him to 
dispose of the same at a considerable ad- 
vance on the purchase price, thus giving him 
the means of purchasing a larger and better 
farm in Malta township, De Kalb county, 
which he did in 1897. His Malta farm 
consists of two hundred and forty acres, is 
well situated and well improved, and with 
Mr. Plapp's methods of working, will be a 
golden spot in beauty and productiveness. 
Politically Mr. Plapp is a Republican, and 
his popularity has been such that he has 
been called upon to fill various township of- 
fices, which he has done to the satisfaction 
of all concerned. Mrs. Plapp has been a 
consistent member of the Congregational 
church for the past twenty years. 



EDGAR M. PHELPS, contracting painter 
of Sycamore, was born in Genoa town- 
ship, De Kalb county, Illinois, November 
25, 1S41. His father, William Phelps, was 
a well-known builder and coiitractor in the 
earl}' history of De Kalb county. He first 
settled in (jenoa township on a farm, and 
in 1844 moved to the village of Genoa, 
where he remained until 1848, and then 
moved to Sycamore, having secured the 
contrail tor the erection of a new court- 
house. He married Elizabeth Hollembeak, 
a daughter of Ruloff W. and Electa (Ames) 
Hollembeak, the former a native of Shore- 
ham, Vermont, and a son of Abraham 
and Lovina (Lord) Hollembeak, who were 
also natives of \ermont. The father of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



353 



Abraham HoUembeak was a native; of 
Holland and was one of three brothers to 
found the family in this country. Electa 
Ames was a daughter of Barnabas Ames, 
who was also a native of \'ermont. The 
paternal grandfather, William Phelps, Sr. , 
married Cynthia Marston. He was a sol- 
dier in the Revolutionary war, and died 
when forty-eight years of age. 

After the completion of the courthouse, 
William Phelps, the father, purchased a 
steam sawmill, which had been in operation 
in St. Charles, Kane county, and moved 
the same to Sycamore and connnenced the 
milling business. While running the mill 
he received injuries which so seriously 
crippled him that he was unable to continue 
the business. He later sold the mill, and 
was elected constable and collector, a do-all 
office at that time, and served one term. 
He was later elected sheriff of the county, 
and served satisfactorily for two years. He 
was of an inventive turn of mind, and in- 
vented and patented a churn that he manu- 
factured and which became quite popular. 
Models of several of his inventions are now 
in the patent office at Washington. 

The subject of this sketch was but seven 
years of age when he accompanied his par- 
ents to Sycamore, and he has since resided 
at the county seat. He attended the public 
schools in Sycamore until the age of four- 
teen years, for a time being a student in the 
old school-house that stood at the corner 
of Main and Sycamore streets. After school 
days, he found work on farms in the town- 
ships surrounding Sycamore, until after the 
Civil war commenced. He enlisted in Au- 
gust, 1862, at Sycamore, and was mustered 
into the service September 2, at Dixon, 
Illinois, as a member of Company A, One 
Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer In- 



fantry. With his regiment he was in the 
battles of Resaca and New Hope Church, 
was then in the Atlanta campaign and in 
the battles at Savannah, Columbia, Averys- 
boro, and Bentonville, North Carolina. He 
was with his regiment at Raleigh, North 
Carolina, when Lee surrendered. After the 
close of the campaign, those who were not 
able to stand the march from the battle- 
fields through Richmond and Virginia, to 
Washington, were sent around by boat. Mr. 
Phelps having a large carbuncle on his back 
was among the number sent by water to the 
Capital, where he participated in the Grand 
Review. He was mustered out at Chicago, 
June 10, 1865. 

On receiving his discharge Mr. Phelps 
returned to his home in Sj'camore and 
learned the painter's trade with a brother, 
and was with him for some four or five 
years, when he began contracting for him- 
self and has continued in the business to the 
present time. His work is principally con- 
fined to the northern part of De I\alb 
county and he employs from three to twelve 
men. He has painted many of the most 
prominent public and private buildings in 
the vicinity of Sycamore. 

Mr. Phelps was married November 23, 
1867, in Linnville township. Ogle county, 
Illinois, to Miss Martha Jinks, born in Cov- 
entry, England, June 14, 1847. Her father, 
William Jinks, was born at Rugby, Eng- 
land, where his wife, Ann Kidsley, was also 
born and where they were married. They 
came to America in 1852, sailing from Liv- 
erpool to New York. He came directly 
west to Ogle county, Illinois, and located 
in Linnville township, where a brother then 
resided. After living in Linnville township 
some six months he moved to Kingston, 
where he engaged in the blacksmith trade 



3 54 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



for five years. During this time he studied 
veterinary surgery, and when he left Kings- 
ton he moved to his farm of eighty acres in 
Linnville township and practiced until he 
retired. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Phelps four children 
have been born. Ada is the wife of George 
P. Blanchard, of Sycamore, and they have 
three children, James Edgar, Merle and 
Barbara. Ella, Lizzie and Edgar William 
yet remain at home. In politics Mr. Phelps 
is a Republican, his first presidential vote 
being cast for Abraham Lincoln. He has 
never been an office seeker, but served two 
terms as township collector. He is a mem- 
ber of the Grand Army of the Republic and 
was formerh' a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Phelps is a 
member of the Universalist church. 



JAMES H. MOORE, who resides on sec- 
tion 35, Genoa township, was born De- 
cember 29, 1835, and is well known as the 
first white child born in the township. He 
is the son of Voranus Emory and Sylvia 
(Madison) Moore, the former a native of 
Palmer, Massachusetts, and the latter of 
Trumbull county. Ohio, and a daughter of 
Thomas Madison, a farmer by occupation, 
born in Ohio, who canje west in 1833, with 
the father of our subject, and took up a 
claim where the village of Genoa now stands, 
built a log tavern, the first in the township, 
and kept the same for many years. He 
was the first justice of the peace in the 
township. Later he sold his property in 
Genoa, and went to Texas, where his death 
occurred. Voranus E. Moore came to De 
Kalb county in the fall of 1835. and was 
I he first to commence housekeeping in 



Genoa township. He located a claim south 
of the present village of Genoa, where the 
Illinois Central depot nowstands. He took 
up a claim of one hundred and three acres, 
and first built his cabin near the river, and 
later erected a frame residence on the site 
of tht: lUmois Central depot. When the 
land came into market, he purchased the 
claim and there resided until 1863, when 
he sold out and moved 16 Mcl-ean county, 
locating near Bloomington, where his death 
occurred in 1880. The paternal grand- 
father, Gideon Moore, was also a native of 
Palmer, Massachusetts. By occupation he 
was a farmer and gardener in his native 
state. Later in life he came to Illinois, 
where his death occurred at the age of nine- 
ty-six years, four months and ten days. He 
had a brother who lived to be one hundred 
and four years old. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
his native township, received his education 
in the old log school-house, attending school 
during three months in the winter. The 
first school-house was erected near the pres- 
ent farm of our subject. Pupils attended 
the school from Mayfield, Sycamore, Kings- 
ton and Genoa townships, some of the 
pupils walking three or four miles to 
the school and returning each day Mr. 
Moore attended the school from the time 
he was six years of age until he was 
twent}' years old. He worked on neigh- 
boring farms every season, raking in the 
harvest fields when cradles were used. 
He was one of a family of six children, four 
of whom are yet living. Clarissa married 
Lysander Tupper and lives in Oregon. John 
H. is the subject of this sketch Henry and 
|onathaii F. live at Charter Grove. 

When he attained his majority, Mr. 
Moore went to Kansas and took up a claim, 




JAMES H. MOORE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



35; 



and later returned and on the 3rd of Febru- 
ary, 1858. at Sycamore, was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Adelaine Miller, a native of 
Xewton Falls, Ohio, who came west in 
1845 with her parents. After his marriage 
he rented his father's farm, and continued 
renting other farms until the fall of 1867, 
when he purchased one hundred and twenty 
acres where he now resides, together with 
five acres of timber in Charter Grove. In 
1887 his wife died, leaving four children. 
Adelbert is the present city marshal of 
Hampshire, Illinois. Lillie married Henry 
Bartlett, and they reside near Charles City, 
Iowa. ,\lfred is a carpenter residing in 
Genoa. \\'illiam is a farmer of Genoa town- 
ship. 

The second marriage of Mr. Moore was 
in 1888, when he wedded Mrs. Mary Cra- 
mer, widow of Nathan Cramer, and a 
daughter of Clark Henderson, a native of 
Vermont and a farmer by occupation, who 
died at the age of fifty-five years, in Barry 
county, Michigan. He was the son of Tru- 
man Henderson. His wife was Mary Dake, 
also a native of Vermont and a daughter of 
Benjamin and Polly Dake. Clark and Mary 
Henderson were the parents of ten children, 
four of whom are now living. By her first 
marriage Mrs. Moore had one son, William 
Henr}' Cramer. By her union with Mr, 
Moore, she became the mother of two sons. 
James Henry and Voranus Emory. 

In politics Mr. Moore is a Republican, 
and cast his first presidential vote for John 
C. Fremont. He has satisfactorily filled 
several of the minor township ofifices. Re- 
ligiously he is a member of the Advent 
Christian church. In addition to his gen- 
eral farming he is engaged in dairying, hav- 
ing t\^'enty-f^ve head of milch cows. For 
eight years he shipped to Chicago and for 



two years has been selling to the creamery 
at Charter Grove. He is a good and hon- 
orable man, and his friends are manv. 



ORRIN MERRITT. senior member of 
the firm of Merritt & Hadsall, con- 
tractors and builders, Genoa, was born in 
Concord township, Cuyahoga county. Ohio. 
September 27. 1831. His father, Calvin 
Merritt. was born in \\'orcester. Massachu- 
setts, and moved to Ohio in an early day 
while that state was yet on the frontier In 
1844 he came to Illinois and purchased a 
farm at Shattuck's Grove, Boone county, to 
which he added three hundred and twenty 
acres of fine land. On that farm he lived 
until after the death nf his wife, and about 
1870 sold it. and made his home with his 
children during the remainderof his life, dy- 
ing when upwards of eighty years of age. 
In politics he was a life-long Democrat, and 
was honored with several minor township 
offices. He married Eliza Shattuck, born 
about six miles from Oswego, New York, in 
1805, and a daughter of Caleb and Amelia 
Shattuck, also natives of New York. She 
died in 1851. They were the parents of 
eight children, as follows; Mrs. Louisa 
Herrick, Mrs. Delilah Hinman. Orrin, Mrs. 
Esther Ingraham, Mrs. Selinda Harris. Gir- 
den, Mrs. Rosetta Conover. and Mrs. Jose- 
phine Landreth. The paternal grandfather. 
Moses Merritt. moved from Massachusetts 
to Ohio, where he died at the age of sixty- 
five years. His occupation was that of a 
farmer during his entire life. 

The subject of this sketch attended the 
district schools in his native state until the 
age of twelve years, and then spent one year 
in a private school at Cleveland. Ohio. He 
accompanied the family from Ohio to Shat- 



.13 



8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tuck's Grdve, near Belvidere, Boone county, 
Illinois, where they arrived in July, 1S44. 
They came by lakes from Cleveland to Chi- 
cago, and by teams to Shattuck's Grove, 
and were thiee weeks 01 route. Arriving 
here our subject entered school in Belvidere, 
which he attended until fifteen years old. 
He began life for himself at the age of si.\- 
teen years, working during the winter months 
in the pineries in the south and spending his 
summers at home. He would go to the 
pineries in the fall, where he would spentl 
seven months chopping wood for steamboats. 
In the fall of 1849 he went to Cleveland, 
Ohio, where he spent eight years learning 
the trade of ship carpenter, at which he 
worked a portion of the time as journejiuan. 
Returning to Illinois, he bought a farm near 
Shattuck's Grove, which he cultivated for 
six years. He then went to Chicago, and 
for four \ ears was engaged in ship building, 
and three \ears in the car shops of the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad. In 1H77, he came 
to Genoa, and for eleven years followed 
contracting and building alone. Since 188S 
he has been in partnership with John Had- 
sall, and they are now the most substantial 
builders in Genoa. 

Mr. Merritt was married February 7, 
1850, near Shattuck's Grove, to Miss Mary 
Wilson, a native of Upper Canada, born in 
October. 1834, and a daughter of Thomas 
Wilson, born in Lower Canada, and who 
served in the war of 1812. He came to Illi- 
nois in 1844, locating near Shattuck's 
Grove, where he spent the remainder of his 
life, dying when past eighty-one years. 
One of his sons served in the war for the 
Union. His father was Christopher Wilson. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Merritt four children have 
been born — Albert, Andrew, Hattie and 
Henry. The first named is now deceased. 



Henry has been twice married, his first union 
being with Miss Cora .Atwood, by whom he 
has three children, .Albert. Jennie and Mary. 
His second union was with Miss Nettie 
Thompson and they have two children, 
Orrin and Harry. 

In politics Mr. Merritt is an independent 
Democrat, in national elections usually vot- 
ing his party ticket, and in local elections 
for the best man. Fraternally he is a mem- 
ber of Genoa Lodge. No. 768, I. O. O. F., 
and of Ellwood Encampment at Sycamore. 
He has never been an office seeker nor an 
office holder, serving only as a member of 
the village board. Enterprising and pro- 
gressive, he endeavors to do what will best 
advance the interest of his adopted town 
and county. 



PETER RAMER, a retired farmer resid- 
ing in the village of Hinkley, has been 
a resident of Illinois since 1846. and for 
many years was one of the most successful 
farmers in De Kalb county. He was born in 
Perry county, Pennsylvania, August 4. 1830, 
and is the son of Henry Ramer, a native of 
the same county and state, born August 8, 
1804. The paternal grandfather was like- 
wise a native of Pennsylvania, while the 
family are of German descent. Henry Ra- 
mer grew to manhood in his native county, 
and there married Susanna Troup, a native 
of Perry county, Pennsylvania, born No- 
vember 2, 1808. The early life of Henry 
Ramer was spent on a farm, and hechoose 
the occupation of farming for a life work. 
In 1832 he moved to Richland county, Ohio, 
where he purchased a farm of one hundred 
and twenty acres, and there continued until 
1846, when he came to Illinois, first locat- 
ing in Du Page county, where he remained 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



,^59 



three years, and then came to De Kalb 
county, settling in Pierce township. He 
there purchased a tract of one hundred and 
sixty acres and at once commenced the de- 
velopment of the place. Not a house was 
in sight in any direction, although it was not 
many years before neighbors began to settle 
around them. He later purchased one hun- 
dred and si.xty acres additional, making him 
a fine farm of three hundred and twenty 
acres. The improvements that he made 
were all first class, and on that farm he 
spent the last jears of his life, dying April 
30, 1881, at the age of seventy-six years. 
His wife died January 9, 1877. 

Peter Ramer, our subject, was the old- 
est son of a fainilj' of seven sons and three 
daughters born to his parents, all of whom 
grew to mature years. He assisted his 
father in clearing and opening up the Ohio 
farm, and also in breaking the land and de- 
veloping the farm in De Kalb county. He 
remained with his parents as a dutiful son 
until after attaining his majority. He earned 
his first dollar after the age of twenty-one 
years by mowing for a neighbor. He was 
married in De Kalb county, July 30, 1853, 
to Elizabeth Garlach, a native of Germany, 
who came when a child with her parents to 
the United States, her father becoming one 
of the early settlers of De Ivalb county. 
.\fter his marriage he rented for one year, 
and then bought eighty acres of raw prairie 
land in Pierce township, built a small house 
and straw barn and began farming in earnest. 
He later bought eighty acres adjoining, giv- 
ing him a farm of one hundred and sixtv 
acres, on which he resided for many years. 
In due time the small dwelling house gave 
place to a more pretentious one, the straw 
buTu to a large frame one, with plentv of 
shed room for stock. He also purchased 



one hundred and sixty acres additional, 
making his farm comprise three hundred 
and twenty acres. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Ramer seven children 
were born, as follows: Wilhelmina, wife of 
Adolphus Harter, of Aurora, Illinois; Elihu 
B., a farmer, of Squaw Grove township; 
Frankie, wife of Elias Myers, a farmer of 
Pierce township, residing on the old home- 
stead; Grant, a farmer, of Paw Paw town- 
ship; Pllla, who is now housekeeper for her 
father, and two who died in childhood. The 
mother of these children died July 26, 1892, 
leaving many friends to mourn her loss. 

Mr. Ramer has been a life-long Repub- 
lican, casting his first presidential vote for 
John C. Fremont m 1856, followed by 
Abraham Lincoln in i860 and every presi- 
dential nominee of the party to the present 
time. He has been honored by his fellow 
citizens with several offices of honor and 
trust and in every position has discharged 
the duties in a most satisfactory manner. 
In 1890 he rented his farm, purchased prop- 
erty in Hinckley and removed to that vil- 
lage, where he has since lived retired. He 
is one of the official members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, with which he has 
been connected for forty years. For forty- 
nine years he has been a resident of Illinois 
and in the great changes that have been 
made he has done his part. 



JOHN HELSON, a retired farmer resid- 
ing in the city of Sycamore, was born 
in the town of Plymouth, Devonshire, Eng- 
land, November 24, 1819. His father, 
John Helson Sr. , was born in the parish of 
Braidwood, Widger, Devonshire, England, 
about 1790, and died at the age of seventy- 
four years. In his young manhood he was 



^6o 



Tin; i;i()(.K.\iMiH'.\i, ki'.cokd. 



H workman in the limestone qLuirries. ;uui 
about 1823 was nearly killed by a prema- 
ture blast, a piece being cut out of his face. 
Alter that he engaged in general work as a 
common laborer. His wife, Mary Harris, 
a daughter of ]oseph Harris, was born near 
Plymouth, Devonshire, England, and died 
when about forty-tive years old. 

hi his boyhood and youth our subject 
worked on a farm in Devonshire, but from 
the age of twenty-one years, for a period of 
nine years, he worked in the mines in Corn- 
wall. Leaving that employment he came 
to the United States, sailing from Plymouth 
in the vessel Cordelia, a three masted ship, 
leaving April 4, 1848, and landing in Oue- 
bec. Canada, after a voyage of six weeks 
and three days. From (juebec he went to 
Erie, Pennsylvania, b}' lake, and from there 
to New Castle, by the old Pittsburg & Erie 
canal, where he remained from |une, 1848, 
until the spring of 1851. Leaving New Cas- 
tle he came to Illinois and purchased a farm 
of one hundred and fifty acres, lying partlj' 
in Kane and De I'Calb counties. He later 
added to his original purchase until he had 
two hundred and seventy-five acres of well 
improved land. In the spring of 1851 he 
moved his family to Sscamore township, 
and, leaving them, went to the Lake Supe- 
rior copper mines and remained there until 
the fall of 1852, when he returned to his 
family and remained with them until the 
spring of 1853, when he again returned to 
the mines and remained there until the fall 
of 1854. Returning home he then engaged 
in farming until the fall of 1870, when he 
came to Sycamore, and has since been liv- 
ing retired. 

Mr. Helson was married in St. Clear 
parish, Devonshire, England, to Miss Elijca- 
beth Jane, daughter of William and Cath- 



erine (Johns I jane. 1^}- this union seven 
children have been born: George John, 
residing on a farm in Sycamore township; 
May Jane, wife of W. \Y. London; Eliza- 
beth, wife of William Shuey, of Sycamore 
township; Richard John, residing in Iowa: 
Louisa, wife of William Seamans, of Syca- 
more; Catherine, wife of Nicholas Johnson, 
of Sj'camore; and Thomas, of the firm of 
Briggs, Helson & Olson. Mrs. Helson died 
|une 22, 1896. She was a member of the 
M. E. church. 

W'illiam \\'. London, the son-in-law of 
Mr. Helson, of whom mention has been 
made, was born in Grampian Hills town- 
ship, Fairfield county, Pennsylvania, Janu- 
ary I, 1841, and is the son of Richard \\'. 
and Sarah Ann (Estes) London, both of 
whom were natives of Lu/ierne count}', 
Pennsylvania. He came west with his par- 
ents in 1855, arriving in De Kalb count}' 
March 6, of that year. His father pur- 
chased a farm of eighty acres in Mayfield 
township, which he later sold, and pur- 
chased one on the west line of the city of 
Sycamore, where he lived seven years, then 
sold and bought eighty-six acres in Cort- 
land township, which he later rented, and 
moving to Sycamore resided there until his 
death, February i, 1880. William W. re- 
mained at home until he attained his ma- 
jorit}' when he rented a farm for three years, 
then married, and rented other farms for 
four years, and later purchased land and 
continued farming until the spring of 1895, 
when he removed to Sycamore and is now 
living retired. His present farm in Ma}- 
field township consists of one hundred antl 
eighty acres. 

In 1870 Mr. Helson purchased residence 
propert\' on Cross street, Sycamore, to 
which he removed, but has since given to 



THE SIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



i6i 



his daughter, Mrs. London, with whom he 
makes his home. For many years he was 
a me.nb^r of the United Brethern church, 
but is now a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and in politics is a Re- 
publican, although with strong prohibition 
tendencies. He has held the office of road 
commissioner and school director the f;reat(r 
part of the time since residing in the county. 
He was offered the supervisorship and other 
offices, but refused to accept. 



AARON MOWERS, of Franklin town- 
ship, is a self-made man, one of the 
best farmers in De Kalb county, and now 
owns and operates a farm of six hundred 
and forty acres. He is a native of Herki- 
mer county. New York, born May lo, 1H23, 
and is the son of John G. and Catherine 
(Bnell) Mowers, both natives of New York 
state, who were the parents of six children 
— Giddie, Eliza, Sina and Maria (twins), 
Levi and Aaron. Of these our subject is 
the onl)' survivor. The paternal grandfa- 
ther, George Mowers, was also a native of 
New York state, and a soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary war, for services in which, during 
the last years of his lif«. he drew a pension. 
By occupation he was a farmer. His death 
occurred at a very advanced age. 

.Aaron Mowers was reared on the home 
farm in his native state and educated in its 
public schools. In March, 185 1, he mar- 
ried Margaret Rickard, a native of Herki- 
mer county, New York, and a daughter of 
Jacob and Mary (Oak) Rickard, both na- 
tives of the same state. The\- were the 
parents of nine children, four of whom are 
deceased. Nancy, Peter, John and Phebe. 
The living are Margaret, David, Louisa, 
Al\a and Eliza. The paternal grandfather 



of Mrs. Mowers was Peter Rickard, who 
was likewise a native of Herkimer county. 
New York, a farmer 1)\' occupation and who 
lived to an advanced age. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Mowers seven children have been born — 
Fayette, Har\e\-, James, Mary, Charlie, 
.Allan and Liz/ie, the last named being de- 
ceased. 

About one year alter their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Mowers came to De I\alb county 
and located in South Grove township, on 
section 17, where he purchased one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of government land at 
one dollar and twenty-fi\'e cents per acre. 
He at once commenced the improvement of 
the same, and, as his means increased, 
added to the area of his land, until he has 
now six hundred and forty acres, worth on 
an average seventy-hve dollars per acre. 
In all his farming operations he has met 
with success, and is now numl)ered among 
the most substantial farmers of the county. 
In politics he is an enthusiastic Republican 
and has served as road commissioner three 
years. His residence in Fairdale is a neat 
and attractive one, and he can well afford 
to live in ease and retirement, enjoying the 
fruits of vears of honest toil. 



CARL BURTON CRAWFORD, one of 
the leading business men of Genoa and 
a dealer in groceries, was born in Genoa 
township. March 27, 1865. His father, 
.Alexander Crawford, was born in Mercer 
county, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1822, 
and in the spring of 1828 accompanied* his 
parents to Richmond county. Ohio, and 
there resided until 1839. On the first of 
November of that year the family left Ohio 
and reached Genoa, Illinois, the 24th of the 
same montli, driving through by wagon. 



362 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



His father settled first in Sycamore town- 
ship, where he bought a claim, but later 
sold it and went tu Iowa, where he died in 
1867. Alexander Crawford, Jr.. remained 
in Illinois when his parents move4 west. 
He here married, De.tember 25, 1845, Miss 
Laura Shnrtleff, a native of Canada and a 
daughter of David and Ruth (Knapp) Shnrt- 
leff, her father being a son of Ichabod Shurt- 
leff. They became the parents of five chil- 
dren: Mrs. Theresa Smith, Henry, Howard, 
Everhard and . Carl. The paternal grand- 
father. Ale.xander Crawford. Sr. , married 
Rachel Kidd, a daughter of William I-iidd and 
a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. She died 
in Sycamore township. The paternal great- 
grandfather. David Crawford, who married 
a Miss W'ickhain, was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and there spent his entire life. 

The subject of this sketch attended the 
Genoa schools until the age of seventeen 
years, and for six or se\en }'ears clerked in 
his father's store. In 1894 the father re- 
tired from business and was succeeded by 
his sons, one ol whom took charge of the 
dry goods and our subject the grocery de- 
partment. He now carries a complete line 
of staple and fancy groceries and has an ex- 
cellent trade. He was married in Genoa in 
1880 to Miss Luelia Baldwin, a native of 
Genoa and a daughter of William Clark 
Baldwin. They have become the parents 
of five children: Vernon, V'ellma, Frank, 
.Aria and lone, the last named being 
deceased. 

In politics Mr. Crawford is a Republic- 
an and has served as a member of the 
village board one term and township col- 
lector one term. Fraternally he is a Mason 
and a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of Amer- 
ica and Knights of the Globe. 



REV. \V.' S. GRANGE, pastor of the 
Congregational church of Malta, Illi- 
nois, was born in Eldredsville, , Sullivan 
county, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1857, and is 
the son of John \\'. and Eliza (Vough) 
Grange, both nati\es of l^ennsyK aiiia. The 
father was a farmer of respectability and 
prominence in his county and died in .'\ugust, 
1897. He was of English extraction, while 
his wife was of Scotch descent. She sur- 
vives him and resides on the farm in Sulli- 
van county, Pennsylvania. Their famil\- 
consisted of eleven children, nine of whom 
are vet living. One of their sons is an at- 
torney at Wheaton, Illinois. Each of the 
sons and two of the daughters have been 
teachers in the public schools, a fact that 
speaks well for their parents and well as (or 
their own ambition in that line. 

The subject of this sketch is third in 
order of birth, and was reared and received 
his primary education in the common 
schools of his native township. Subse- 
quently he attended Groveland Seminary, 
in Dodge county, Minnesota, and afterward 
took a special course at Wheaton College, 
Wheaton, Illinois. On leaving college, he 
entered the Chicago Theological Seminary, 
from which he was graduated in 1892. Four 
years previous to this, however, he was 
ordained to the ministry at Dayton, Iowa. 

Shortly after being graduated from the 
Theological Seminary in 1892, Mr. CJrange 
assumed his first pastorate, taking charge of 
the Congregational church at Atkinson, 
Illinois. During his pastorate of this church 
he succeeded in purchasing from the Pres- 
byterians a building in the country which 
formed a mission field for his church. He 
improved the property of his own church by 
adding a lecture room and pastor's stud} . 
During this pleasant pastorale, his congre- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



36j 



gation almost doubled, and his membership 
increased very nearly in the same propor- 
tion. 

It was during his residence in Atkinson 
that Mr. Grange saw the necessity of having 
tiles for sermons and clippings. He put his 
mind to work on this matter and, being a 
practical man, he has brought out as a re- 
sult of his concentration of thought, one of 
the most useful files for all kinds of business 
that is in the market to-day. These files 
cases are indorsed by such men as Rev. Fred 
Brown, La Harpe, Illinois; Rev. Marion D. 
Shutler, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Rev. Cyrus 
Northrup, president of the University of 
Minnesota; Rev. William Stevens Perry, 
Bishop of Iowa, and many others. The 
business of manufacturing these files has 
grown on his hands very largely and as the 
files become known it will still more largely 
increase. 

On the 23d of April, 1884, Mr. Grange 
was united in marriage with Miss Florence 
Douglas, a native of Minnesota, born in 
1868, and a daughter of Henry and Marj' 
Douglas. By this union four children have 
been born, three of whom are now living: 
Earl, Ross and John. Mrs. Grange departed 
this life September 23, 1892, dying in the 
full assurance of faith. For his second wife, 
on |une 19, 1893, Mr. Grange married Miss 
Helen Tibbetts. a native of Dodge county, 
Minnesota, and daughter of Thomas J. and 
Helen Tibbetts. 

In 1896 Mr. Grange moved to Wheaton, 
Illinois, where he remained for about 
nine months. From Wheaton he was called 
to Malta, where he now enjoys the pleasant 
and profitable pastorate with the full con- 
fidence and respect of his parishoners. 
Besides being pastor of the church, Mr. 
(jrange is pursuing his business of file mak- 



ing. Although he has resided in Malta a com- 
paratively short time he has made many 
friends and his uitiuence is veiy great. 



WILLLAM L. KING, a farmer residing 
on section 3. Sycamore township, 
was born on the farm where he now resides 
December 7, 1872, and was the only son of 
Alfred and Mary Belinda (Evans) King, of 
whom mention is made elsewhere in this 
work. When seven years of age, the family 
mo\-ed to a farm one-half mile north in 
Genoa township, and on that farm and one 
adjoining, owned by his father, he remained 
until his marriage, in the spring of 1894 
In the district schools he (jbtained his edu- 
cation, attending principally in the winter 
months until twenty years of age. He has 
grown up on the farm and has always given 
his attention to agricultural pursuits. At 
the age of twenty he rented his father's 
place one season, then married and came to 
his present farm, which consists of one hun- 
dred and thirty-seven acres. 

.\lr. King was married February 21, 
1894, to Miss Julia Mary Whitacre, a daugh- 
ter of Edwin A. and Susan (Warner) Whit- 
acre, both of whom are natives of Muncie 
township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, 
the former born December 2, 1844, and the 
latter June 28, 1844. They were married 
in Pennsylvania in i858, and there resided 
until 1873, when they removed to Spring 
township, Boone county, Illinois, where 
they resided until February, [884, when 
they came to Sycamore township, De Kalb 
county, where Mr. Whitacre has a farm of 
two hundred and four acres. The}' were 
the parents of six children: James, Julia 
Mary, Alfred, .Arthur, William and Leslie. 

To Mr. and Mrs. King one child has 



364 



THE BIOGRAPHICAl. RECORD. 



been born, Dorothy They reside in a 
pleasant home where Mr. King is engaged 
in (general farming. Since taking possession 
ol the farm, he has put in tiling and has re- 
built the house, erected outbuildings and 
made considerable repairing. The 'place is 
in good condition, and the farm is a very 
producti\e one. In politics Mr. I\ing is a 
Republican. 



AKAMONT NOBLE HOLLEMBEAK 
is a well-known retired farmer residing 
in Genoa, one of the few living pioneers of 
De Kalb county. He was born in the town 
of \\'arsaw, Genesee county, New York, 
Februarv 5. 1S16, and is the son of KulofY 
\\". Hollenibeak. who was born m Shnre- 
ham, \'ermont, about \y>''S- He was a 
hatter by trade, and inmed to Genesee 
count}'. New York, jirior to 1S16. and later 
moved to Crawford county, Pennsylvania. 
His death occurred in Crawford county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1S30, at the age of forty- 
five years. He married Electa Ames, a 
daughter of I-iarnabus Ames, who married a 
Miss Noble. The Ames' are .iTi old New 
England family. To RulofT W. and Electa 
Hollembeak, nine children were born, two 
of whom died in infancy. Those attaining 
maturity were; Electa, Betsy, Aramont 
N., .\lfred, Abram, William, and Atny. 
Of these. Electa, Betsy, .Alfred and 
.\bram are deceased. The paternal grand- 
father, Abraham Hollembeak, was a native 
of Vermont, and when a young man moved 
to Canada, and later to Crawford county, 
Pennsylvania, where he died when about 
ninety years old. His wife was Miss I^o- 
vina Lord. Ruloff \V. Hollembeak was a 
descendant of one of three brothers, John, 



Clark and George, who came from Holl.ind 
prior to the Revolutionary war. 

The subject of this sketch was about six 
\ears old when his parents moved to Beaver, 
Crawford county, Pennnsylvania. His fa- 
ther died when he was about fourteen years 
of age, and he continued under the parental 
roof until the age of si.\teen years, when he 
went to (3onneaiit Lake, I^ennsylvania, 
where he served an apprenticeship of three 
years in learning the wagonmaker's trade. 
He then returned to Conneaut, Ohio, and 
worked about three years, and from there 
went to his old home in Pennsylvania. On 
the 1 2th of Januar}', 1838, in Crawford 
county, Pennsylvania, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Parmelia Decker, Elder 
(esse Church officiating. She is a native of 
Manchester, Genesee county. New York, 
born May 17, 18 17, and a daughter of Fred- 
erick and Amy (Barney) Decker. She em- 
igrated to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, 
with her mother, her father having died in 
New York. 

Immediately after his marriage Mr. Hol- 
lembeak came to Boone count), . Illinois, 
and spent the winter at Shattuck's Gro\e. 
Leaving his wife at the Grove he went to 
Chicago and found work at his trade during 
the winter. On his return in the spring he 
built a log house on his claim, of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, which was in De Kalb 
county, and that season broke twcnt\ 
acres. Mr. Hollembeak has still his patent 
from the government, the land never hav- 
ing been transferred. In his log cabin he 
put up a bench, using tht- house for a shop 
as well as dwelling. In an early day Mr. 
Hollembeak had quite a reputation for cur- 
ing poll evil in horses. On that farm he 
resided until 1877, and during the interven- 
ing \'ears, like ,nll other settlers, had his 




A. N. HOLLEMBEAK, 




MRS. A. N. HOLLEMBEAK. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



369 



seasons of prosperity and seasons of adver- 
sity. On the whole he has, however, done 
better than most men who began as he did 
with nothing but willing hands and strong 
heart for capital. Being of an ingenious 
turn of mind he has invented and taken out 
patents on barb wire and various other de- 
vices, inchiding a wind mill, which he man- 
ufactured for a number of years. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hollembeak six chil- 
dren have been born, (i) Delia Ann married 
F"rederick Totten and they have three chil- 
dren, Charles, William and Etta. Charles 
married Zeni P. Ploss and has had four 
children, George, Fern, Ruth and Frank, 
deceased. William married Ella Sheely, 
and they have five children, Ethel, Flossie, 
Frederick, Annie and Grace. William died 
in Jul}', 1898. Etta married Frank Cham- 
plain, and their three children are Blanche. 
W'illiam and Louie. (2) Alfred S. married 
Blanche Cohoon. (3) Henry C. first mar- 
ried Emily Sackville, and they had two 
children, Emily, deceased, and Oscar. His 
second union was with Millie Noble. (4) 
Emily married George Ide, and their chil- 
dren were Harry and Ralph, both deceased. 
(5) Ruloff W. married Emma Brown, and 
their children are Harry and Row (6) 
Ralph D. married Lily Brown, and they 
have one child living, Helen. 

In 1877 Mr. Hollembeak erected a com- 
fortable cottage in Genoa where he moved 
with his family, and has since been living 
quietly at peace with the world. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hollembeak, are Spiritualists in re- 
ligious belief. In politics he is a Repub- 
lican, and in times passed took an active 
interest in political affairs. He served as 
supervisor of his township two terms, sev- 
eral terms as assessor, and also held other 
minor offices, and served six years as police 

18 



justice in Genoa. For about fortj' years 
he has been a member of the Masonic 
lodge at Genoa. 

On the 1 2th of January, 1898, Mr. and 
Mrs. Hollembeak celebrated their sixtieth 
wedding anniversary. About thirty relatives 
were present to partake of the festivities. 
The day was spent in an enjoyable manner 
and all had a glorious good time. An 
elaborate dinner was served, the tables 
fairly groaning under the load of good 
things. 

At one table the host and hostess sat 
with their own family as follows: Mrs. A. 
N. Pond, Mr. Hollembeak's sister; William 
Holletnbeak, his brother; Edgar Phelps, 
son of his sister, Betsey Phelps, and Mrs. 
Gardner, daughter of his sister, Mrs. Farr. 
The children sat at the table as they did 
when they were all living at home. Delia 
Ann and Alfred sat next their father, while 
Ralph, Yuluff and Emily were placed next 
to their mother in the order of their ages, 
the line being broken by the absence of 
Henry. Delia Ann is the oldest and Ralph 
the youngest child. On this table an elegant 
cake was placed in which sixty candles 
were burning, emblematic of the number of 
years of connubial bliss. The other table 
was surrounded by the rest of the relatives. 

The reception room was beautifully 
decorated with evergreen, flowers, etc., 
presenting a very pretty appearance. On 
the east wall over the parlor door were the 
words "welcome," on the south wall the 
words " i838-Anniversary-i898 " and on 
the west " Sixtieth. ,\s a token of respect 
the relatives presented Mr. and Mrs. Hol- 
lembeak with a iiandsomely made oak ex- 
tension table and their own children gave 
them a beautiful set of dining-room chairs. 
It was indeed a pleasant and most unusual 



370 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORI). 



affair and those who were in attendance 
will long remember it as one of the happi- 
est events of their lives. About dusk the 
guests departed for their respective homes 
after wishing the host and hostess many 
happy returns of the day. 

Those present were: Messrs. and Mes- 
dames William Hollembeak, Edgar, Phelps, 
Frank Hollembeak, Abrain Hollembeak, 
George Blanchard and the Misses Eva 
Phelp and Grace Hollembeak, of Sycamore; 
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hollembeak and daugh- 
ter, of Elgin; Messrs. and Mesdames A. H. 
Pond, D. S. Brown, A. R. Cohoon, A. Co- 
hoon, Gardner and Ralph Hollembeak, of 
Genoa; Mr. and Mrs. Will Pond, of DeKalb. 



JOHN TISCHHOUSER, contractor and 
builder, resides on Ue Kalb avenue. 
Sycamore, Illinois, is a native of Switzer- 
land, born in the village of Sevelen, Can- 
ton St. Gallen, December 29, 1849, a"d is 
the son of John and Rosa (Gedint) Tisch- 
houser, the former born in Russia, but was 
reared in Canton St. Gallen, Switzerland, 
August 15, 1813, and the latter in Canton 
Grau-Buenden, Switzerland. The paternal 
grandfather, Simon Tischhouser, learned 
the confectioner's trade in Brussels and 
.\ntwerp, worked many years in England, 
came to America, and made his way to St. 
Louis, where he built and operated the first 
baker's oven in the city, or village as it was 
then. He recrossed the Atlantic, worked 
for a time in Spain, then went to Italy, and 
later joined the army of Napoleon. He was 
in the Russian campaign, was captured, and 
later joined the Russian army, and in due 
time was commissioned captain, a position 
he held for eight years, and then retired on 
a pension. He was six feet six inches in 



height, was never sick, ne\er needed glasses, 
teeth good until his death, heavy head of 
hair, and very powerful and vigorous during 
his entire life. He died at the age of ninety- 
nine years and seven months. 

John Tischhouser, the father of our sub- 
ject, studied veterinar\' surgery seven years 
in Switzerland, after which he practiced the 
profession there until coming to America, 
and on his arrival here resumed practice, 
and continued the same until his death. He 
died at the residence of a daughter in Mich- 
igan in 1894. I^ike his father before him, 
he was an exceedingly strong man and 
could easily carry seven hundred pounds 
weight. In height he was six feet four 
inches, and weighed two hundred and fifty 
pounds. His wife, Rosa Gedint, was the 
daughter of Casper Gedint, who in middle 
life was accidentally killed in the forest on the 
mountain side by a log rolling on him. 
His wife, Catherina, died in Switzerland at 
the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Rosa 
Tischhouser died in 1871. She was the 
mother of seven children, six of whom are 
yet living. 

|ohn Tischhouser, our subject, lived in 
Switzerland until the age of sixteen years, 
and there received his education in the pub- 
lic schools Leaving home, he went to Ant- 
werp by rail, thence by canal to the sea, 
and embarked April 6, 1865, in a three- 
masted sailing \essel, for the United States. 
In mid-ocean his vessel spoke a steamer 
conveying news of I.,incoln's assassination. 
Our subject was so delighted to see a vessel 
with other human beings — anjthing from 
land — that he climbed the mast to watch it 
as long as visible. Passengers were not 
allowed in the riggings, but Mr. Tischhouser 
being a venturesome youth, climbed to the 
top of the mast and took a gold hall from 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



37 r 



it. He was arrested by a sailor and taken 
before the captain, but so won his favor 
that he was not punished, and the captain 
became a good friend to him during the rest 
of the voyage. It was a stormy passage, 
and their vessel was driven nearly to the 
coast of Greenland. Its masts were blown 
away, supplies of food ran low, and water 
was very scarce and very foul — worse than 
pond water — }et passengers would have 
been glad to steal even a pint of it had 
guards not been kept over the water barrels. 

After a voyage of one hundred and four 
days and four days in quarantine, landed at 
Castle Garden, New York, June 13, 1865. 
After a few days spent in New York, by rail he 
came west to Chicago where he secured 
work as hostler in a hotel at thirty dollars 
a month, a munificent income t(^ a foreign 
born boy. The work kept him up nearly 
all night, and was too fatiguing, so he quit 
and worked in a brick yard fcjr a time on 
Goose Island at two dollars and a half per 
day, and thought himself a millionaire. He 
next went to Ivane county, Illinois, and 
worked on a farm near Dundee the greater 
part of the year at twenty-five dollars per 
month. Being a large and strong youth 
and a good worker he always commanded 
the highest wages. From Dundee he went 
to Davenport,' Iowa, and worked on the 
farm of a fellow countryman at good wages 
and then went with some friends to St. 
I^ouis, and from there to southern Illinois 
where he worked in a saw mill for about 
eighteen months, after which he spent 
nearly a year in Wisconsin and Minnesota, 
and from the latter state returned to Wis- 
consin, and at Oshkosh worked two sum- 
mers and spent one winter in saw mills 
and a lumber camp. 

From the saw mills and, lumber camps 



of Wisconsin he crossed the plains and spent 
about a year in Oregon and California, 
then returned east, and at Des Moines, 
Iowa, worked one year on the water tower, 
and while there had an exciting experience, 
narrowly escaping death by stepping off the 
river bridge a few seconds before it went 
down under the weight of some six hundred 
and forty ponies that stampeded, nearly the 
entire number getting on the bridge at 
once, instead of a few at a time, as it was 
intended should be done. From Des Moines 
he went to West Bend. Wisconsin, where 
during the next four years he finished 
learning the carpenter's trade which he had 
previously begun. After spending two years 
at Kenosha, Wisconsin, he went to Chicago 
where he remained until April, 1875, when 
he removed to Sycamore, Illinois, where he 
has since continued to reside, engaged in 
contracting and building. Since removing 
to Sycamore he has erected eighty-seven 
barns in the country, thirty-two residences 
in the citj' of Sycamore, fourteen residences 
in the country near by, and about twenty 
residences, stores and school-houses in Rock- 
ford, Belvidere, Kirkland, Kingston, Hamp- 
shire and other surrounding towns. For 
Joseph Glidden, near De Kalb, he erected 
one of the largest barns in the state, being 
sixty-five by one hundred and fifty feet. At 
Kenosha, Wisconsin, he built a barn sixty- 
four by two hundred feet, with an extension 
for mill purposes. 

Mr. Tischhouser was united in marriage 
Januar}' 2, 1872, with Miss Louisa Claire 
Leech, a native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, 
and a daughter of John E. Leech, of Lan- 
caster, England, who married a Miss Tur- 
ner, of Yorkshire, England, and a daugh- 
ter of Abraham Turner. By this union 
there are seven children: Arthur, a gradu- 



372 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ate of the Sycamore hi^h school, and now 
foreman in the can factory; Delford Lee, 
working in the factory under his brother; 
Rosa May and Millie Edna, at home; [ohn, 
deceased; Claretice Raymond and John Ed- 
ward, at home. Fraternally Mr. Tischhoiis- 
er is a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows and of the National Union. 
In politics he is a Democrat, and is now 
serving as alderman of the city. 



ARTHUR ALLISON is numbered among 
the young and progressive farmers of 
De Ralb county. He is a native of Frank- 
lin township, born on the farm where he 
now resides October lo, i S69. His father, 
James T. Allison, was born in Burnside 
township, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, 
February 22, 1832. The paternal grand- 
parents, Andrew and Mary (Lee) Allison, 
were both natives of Pennsylvania and the 
parents of four children, of whom James T. 
is the sole survivor. He was left an orphan 
when but two years old by the death of his 
mother, and resided with his father until 
ten years of age and then made his home 
with his grandfather, Jacob Lee, until he 
was eighteen years old, his education be- 
ing received in the district schools of his 
native state. In 1855 he came to Illinois 
and settled in Boone county, where he 
worked by the day and month. He made 
his first purchase of land in 1861, buying a 
tract of forty acres, to which he kept adding 
as his means increased until he has now one 
hundred and sixty acres of well cultivated 
land. He was married on the 20th of Sep- 
tember, i860, to Margaret Wood, a native 
of Canada, and to them were born three 
children, Elizabeth, John F. and Arthur. 
The two sons now run the home farm. 



Elizabeth married Charles Miner, a mer- 
chant of Kirkland. For twelve years fames 
C. Allison served as school director and was 
five years road commissioner. In politics 
he is a Republican. 

On the home farm Arthur Allison grew 
to manhood and attended school at Kirk- 
land for two years after leaving his district 
school. He then entered the emplov of the 
Chicago, Milwaukee lV St. Paul Railway 
Company and was fireman on an engine for 
five years. On the 7th of July, 1892, he 
married Myrtle Byers, a daughter of A. B. 
Byers, of South Grove township, De I\alb 
county, and they have one daughter, Ruth E. 

Mr. and Mrs. Allison ha\e a farm of one 
hundred and twentj' acres of good land, a 
portion of her father's estate. The}' reside, 
however, on his father's farm, where he is 
engaged in general fanning and stock rais- 
ing. In politics he is an ardent Republican. 



HENRY H. SLATER, who is engaged 
in the general mercantile business at 
Genoa, Illinois, is one of the best known 
citizens in the northern part cjf De Kalb 
county. He was born in Hunterdon coun- 
ty. New Jersey, October 31, 183S. and is 
the son of Samuel Slater, and the grandson of 
Henry Slater, who spent his entire life in New 
Jersey, and who died when about seventy-five 
years of age. The family are of Scotch de- 
scent. Samuel Slater was born in Hunterdon 
county, New Jersey, in 181G. He married 
Rhoda Burroughs a daughter of Timothy and 
Phebe (Green) Burroughs, the latter being a 
daughter of Joseph Green of New Jersey, 
who married Elizabeth Gillis, a native of 
Ireland, who came to America when about 
fourteen years old. Timothy Burroughs 
was a great-grandson of John Burroughs, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



373 



who moved from Long Island to Trenton, 
New Jersey, and was one of the first sher- 
iffs of that county. He was followed by 
his son John, and the latter by a son of the 
same name, who was the father of Timothy. 
The third John served in the Revolutionary 
war, and on that account was a pensioner 
of the general government. His death oc- 
curred in 1835, when about eighty-five 
years old. He married Rhoda Hendrick- 
son, a daughter of Thomas Hendrickson. 
They became the parents of five chil- 
dren, of whom I^hoda, the mother of our 
subject, was fourth in order of birth. She 
and the youngest of the family, the now ven- 
erable Isaac I. Burroughs, are the only sur- 
vivors. Mrs. Rhoda Burroughs lived to be 
ninety years of age. Of the children born 
to Samuel and Rhoda Slater, two survive, 
our subject and Martha, wife of Chauncey 
D. Flint, an engineer of Chicago. 

Henry H. Slater spent his boyhood in 
his native state, and there remained until 
sixteen years of age. His education was 
obtained in the district school and in a pri- 
vate school in Warren county, New Jersey. 
On coming to Illinois, he went with his 
father to a farm two and a half miles east 
of Genoa, an-d worked with him until the 
age of twenty-one years, when his father 
gave him a farm which he proceeded to cul- 
tivate, and in which he continued until the 
second year of the war for the Union. He 
enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and 
Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Genoa, 
September 2, 1872, and was mustered in 
with his regiment at Dixon, and was soon 
afterwards sent to the front. The regiment 
joined the main army at Louisville, Ken- 
tucky, and the first battle in which it was 
engaged was at Resaca, Georgia. It was 
later in the Atlanta campaign, and with 



Sherman on the march to the sea. 
While at Raleigh, North Carolina, they 
heard the news of the surrender of Lee 
and the fall of Richmond. The regiment 
then marched through Richmond, Virginia, 
and after viewing the battle grounds, pro- 
ceeded to Washington, where it participat- 
ed in the Grand Review. It was mustered 
out at Washington, and discharged at Chi- 
cago, in June, 1865. 

Returning home Mr. Slater opened a 
general store in Genoa, later adding a stock 
of drugs. In 1870 he disposed of his store 
and went into business at Gardner, Illinois, 
but in 1873 returned to Genoa and again 
entered into the mercantile business. In 
I 876 he built a large brick store room and 
later took his son into partnership. The 
son is now deceased and the firm name is 
now H. H. Slater. 

Mr. Slater was married January 23, 
1867, in Genoa, to Miss Amaretta B. Stiles, 
born in Fraleysburg, Canada, just across 
the line from Vermont, and a daughter of 
Asahel Stiles, a native of Benson, Vermont, 
born August 14, 1797, and died in Genoa 
February 7, 1883. He came to Illinois in 
November, 1848, coming by canal and lakes 
to Chicago and by teams to De Kalb 
county, locating in Sycamore township, 
three miles south of Genoa. He was one 
of the builders of the court house in Syca- 
more and was by trade a carpenter. His 
son, Aaron K. Stiles, was county clerk of De 
Kalb county for twelve years. Asahel 
Stiles married Fannie Smith, a native of 
Sudbury, Vermont, a daughter of Enoch 
and Mary (Wilson) Smith, natives of Eng- 
land. To our subject and wife two chil- 
dren were born, Samuel and Margaret. 
The former was for a time in business with 
his father, but is now deceased, 



374 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Fraternally Mr. Slater is a member of 
the Masonic lodge at Genoa, and also of 
the Grand Ann)' of the Republic. Well 
known throughout the county, he is a man 
who has many warm friends and as a busi- 
ness man has always been enterprising and 
up with the times. 



JONAS INGMANSON is now living re- 
tired in the city of Sycamore. He was 
born March 19, 1828, in the province of 
Smolen, Sweden, and is the son of Ingman 
and Elna (Johnson) Swanson, both of whom 
were natives of Sweden. The father died 
when our subject was but one year old, and 
the mother when he was but si.xteen years 
of age. He was thus left to be brought up 
by relatives. Until the age of thirteen he 
was taught by a private teacher, a lady who 
passed from house to house, hearing recita- 
tions and giving instructions. In 1841 the 
state school system extended to Smolen, and 
our subject attended the public schcjol until 
his fifteenth year, when he was confirmed. 
At the age of sixteen our subject com- 
menced to learn engineering, and from that 
time until 1857 he ran a boat on a small 
lake near his birth place. It was while thus 
employed that the onl}- accident that ever 
befell him occurred. During a violent 
storm, Aijril 11, 1S52, the machinery became 
misplaced, and in his efforts to get it right. 
the boat pitched in a rough sea, and his left 
hand was caught in the gearing, severing 
two fingers. During his twenty years in 
charge of engines in Sweden, he, never had 
the slightest accident to machinery or en- 
gines. During the construction of the first 
railroad in Sweden, he was employed in the 
works, and for six years ran an engine on 
the road. Later he went to Gottenberg, 



and was employed as an engineer in a saw 
mill until his emigration to America. 

On July 18, 1870, Mr. Ingmanson sailed 
from Malme, for New Castle, England, 
thence went by rail to Liverpool, where he 
took a vessel on the Inman line, for New 
York. Arriving in the latter city, he came 
direct to Sycamore, where a brother had 
preceded him, reaching here August 9, 1870, 
being nearly a month after sailing from 
Malme. He secured what labor he could 
find for a time, then for a year ran an en- 
gine for the Reuben Ellwood Manufacturhig 
Company. After the great Chicago fire, he 
went to that city, and for six or seven 
months, received the high wages paid for 
labor after the disaster. On returning to 
Sycamore, he worked in the Marsh Harvest- 
er Works for a time, and later ran an en- 
gine for the Russell Manufacturing Com- 
pany. 

Leaving the employ of the latter com- 
pany, Mr. Ingmanson went to Rockford, 
Illinois, and established a Paint Manufactur- 
ing Company, which he operated for four 
years. He then returned to Sycamore for 
a short time, and then moved to Chicago, to 
be near his children, who were all employed 
there, .\fter remaining in Chicago four 
years, he again returned to Sycamore, and 
established the Russell N'arnish and Color 
Company, which he conducted some three 
or four )ears. He then ran an engine for 
the Patton Manufacturing Company two 
years, since which time he has lived retired 
in his comfortable home in Sycamore. Ac- 
cording to Swedish custom, he takes his 
last name from his father's first name. 

Mr. Ingmanson was married in Kristian- 
stad. Sweden, April 3, 1862, to Miss Elsie 
funson, who was born on the old family es- 
tate, known as the Holma District Scone, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



375 



province of Usbue, and a daughter of Juns 
and Elna (Nelson) Larson. By this union 
there are nine children, seven of whom are 
living. Emma married Mongue Selberg, a 
blacksmith and machinist, by whom she has 
three children, Oscar, Benjamin and Clar- 
ence. Albert, who is a machinist by trade, 
married Tessie Randall, since deceased, and 
is now living with his parents. Emil, also 
a machinist by trade, married Ella John- 
son and has now a position in a wholesale 
house in Chicago. Emily married Edwin 
Nelson, a molder by trade. Jennie and 
Augusta hold positions in mercantile estab- 
lishments in Chicago. Esther, a graduate 
of the Sycamore schools, yet remains at 
home. 

In politics Mr. Ingmanson is a Republic- 
an, while he and his family are members 
of the Episcopal church. He is a distant 
relative of Christine Nillson, the celebrated 
Swedish singer. His brother, Andrew Ing- 
manson, first discovered the possibilities of 
her voice, and gave financial aid to secure 
her first instruction. When in this country, 
on one of hep annual tours, she was solicit- 
ed to give concerts in Sycamore to help the 
Swedish Lutheran church, but would not 
consent. Mr. Ingmanson then visited her 
in Chicago, the result being two concerts in 
Sycamore which resulted in a large profit 
for the church. 



JOSEPH EDMOND PARKER is a well 
known citizen of Sycamore. He was 
born in Spencer county, Indiana, July 14, 
1845, ^nd 'S the son of Henry N. and Mary 
Ann (Stillwell) Parker, the former a native 
of Ontario county. New York, and the latter 
of Campbell county, Kentucky. Henr}- 



Parker was born in October, 1814, and was 
the son of James and Sarah (Hobbs) Parker, 
a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, who died in New York, many years 
ago. Henry N. Parker had five brothers and 
one sister. The latter, Louisa, married 
Robert Graham, but both are now deceased. 
Lorenzo Dow, a Methodist minister, now 
deceased. He was named after Lorenzo 
Dow, who was a cousin of J. E. Parker's 
grandfather. Charles is still living and is a 
resident of Liberty, Labette county, Kan- 
sas. The deceased are Parley, Orison and 
Russell. 

In 1839, Henry N. Parker moved from 
his native state to Indiana, where he en- 
gaged in farming and where he resided until 
1852, when he came to DeKalb county, 
Illinois, and located in Kingston. Purchas- 
ing a farm, he operated the same until his 
death. May 2, 1898. For many years he 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and was an active worker in that 
body. Politically, he was a Republican 
from the organization of the party. Physi- 
cally, he was a large, well built man, six 
feet, two inches in height. His wife, Mary 
Ann Stillwell, is the daughter of Joseph 
Stillwell, a native of Kentucky. Her par- 
ents died in Kentucky, and Shelbyville, Illi- 
nois, respectively. Religiously she is also 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Eight children were born to Henry 
N. and Mary A. Parker, as follows: Martha, 
who died in infancy; Sarah Ann, wife of J. 
D. Woolsey, living in the township of Syca- 
more; Louisa, wife of Volaski Hix, de- 
ceased, living in the city of Sycamore; 
John R. , residing in Chicago; Martha 
J., a teacher in the public schools of 
Chicago; Mary Adelaine, wife of Harry 
Hawks, of Freeport, Illinois; and Fannie, 



3/6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



wife of Walter Poust, living; on the old 
homestead. 

The subject of this sketch was eight 
years old when he accompanied his parents 
to Kingston, DeKalb county, Illinois, and 
on the home farm grew to manhood,, while 
receiving his education in the district schools. 
At the age of twenty-two years he began 
farming for himself on land leased of his 
father. He continued to be thus employed 
for about ten years, when he accepted a 
position with the Eliwood Manufacturing 
Company of Sycamore, with which com- 
pany he remained for about fifteen years, 
having charge of the packing and shipping 
and also of the collections. Having learned 
the carpenter's trade in his youth, on leav- 
ing the Eliwood Manufacturing Company, he 
engaged at his trade for a time, but is now- 
living a retired life. 

In September, 1869, Mr. Parker was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane 
Parker, born in New York, and a daughter 
of John and Mary (Anderson) Parker, na- 
tives of Ireland, who came in their youth 
with their parents from the old country. 
She died in June, 1887, bearing one son, 
Samuel Fay, who is employed in the office 
of the True Republican at Sycamore, Illi- 
nois. Mr. Parker was married the second 
time, April /■, 1892, to Eliza Jane Mackey, 
a daughter of Harrison and Mary (Hall) 
Mackey. Her father was a native of Ulster 
county. New York, and by trade was a 
blacksmith, which he followed in early life. 
On coming west in the spring of 1839 he 
located in Mayfield township, De Kalb 
county, where he began farming and where 
his death occurred August 22, 1890. His 
wife, Mary, died January 22, 1856. They 
had three children as follows: Mary R. , 
now Mrs. H. H. Coleman, of Sycamore; 



Eliza Jane, wife of our subject; and Julia 
Ann, who married John Westlake, and died 
April 8, 1869. (See Sketch of Harrison 
Mackey.) 

When he engaged with the Eliwood 
Manufacturing Company, Mr. Parker re- 
moved to Sycamore, which has since been 
his home. He is now living on Main street 
in a good, comfortable dwelling house, 
which he has remodeled and which is situ- 
ated on an attractive ground. Mrs. Parker 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church of Sycamore. Politicall\- he is a 
Republican, and fraternally a member of 
Sycamore Lodge, No. 134, A. F. & A. M., 
Sycamore Chapter, No. 49, R. A. M., and 
Sycamore Commandery, No. 15, K. T. For 
many years he has taken an active part in 
this order and has served as a delegate to 
the various grand bodies. He has been 
worshipful master of the blue lodge, and 
eminent commander of the commandery. 



CAPTAIN WILLIAM VAN WERT, who 
resides on section 9, Franklin town- 
ship, is not only a veteran of the war for 
the Union, but comes of good old Revolu- 
tionary stock, his great-grandfather, El- 
dred Van Wert, being a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary war. Eldred Van Wert was a 
cousin to Isaac Van Wert, who captured 
Major Andre. The Van Werts are of Hol- 
land-Dutch ancestry, and were early set- 
tlers of the state of New York, where El- 
dred Van Wert was born. His son, Abra- 
ham Van Wert, a farmer by occupation, 
was also a native of that state. Hugh \'an 
Wert, the father of our subject, married 
Sarah Robins, who was also a native of 
New York. They became the parents of 
six children, of whom William and Thomas 




CAPT. WILLIAM VAN WERT. 




MRS. WILLIAM VAN WERT. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



381 



R. are the only survivors. The deceased 
were Jacob, Susan, Benjamin and Henry. 
Hugh Van Wert in early life was a farmer 
and followed agricultural pursuits in his na- 
tive state. In 1846 he removed to Michi- 
gan and settled on a farm in Hillsdale coun- 
ty. He there read medicine and was ad- 
mitted to practice, and has since followed 
that profession. He served during the Civil 
war for a term of two years and was wound- 
ed at the battle of South Mountain. He 
died in Hillsdale county, Michigan, Septem- 
ber 28, 1898, at the age of ninety years. 
For some years he drew a pension of seven- 
teen dollars per month for services in the 
Civil war. 

William Van Wert is a native of Sara- 
toga county, New York, born April 29, 
1839. He was but si,\ years of age when 
he accompanied his parents to Hillsdale 
county, Michigan, where he grew to man- 
hood and received his education in the dis- 
trict schools. On the 20th of April, 1861, 
at La Porte, Indiana, he enlisted in Com- 
pany F, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
under the first call for three months' men. 
At the expiration of his term of service he 
enlisted in Company C, Twenty-ninth In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry at La Porte, Indi- 
ana, to serve three years or during the war. 
He was first made a sergeant of his com- 
pany, afterward promoted first lieutenant, 
and later commissioned captain. His regi- 
ment was in very active service during al- 
most his entire term of enlistment, and with 
it he participated in the battles of Phillippi, 
West Virginia; Shiloh, Stone River, Buz- 
zard Roost, Resaca, all the battles of the 
Atlanta campaign; Columbia, Tennessee; 
Franklin, Nashville, Wise Fork, together 
with various skirmishes. At the battle of 
Shiloh Captain Van Wert was badly wound- 



ed, and because of that wound he now 
draws a pension of twenty dollars per month. 
With his regiment he was discharged, Sep- 
tember 27, 1865, at Salisbury, North Caro- 
lina. 

After his discharge. Captain Van Wert 
returned to La Porte, Indiana, and then en- 
gaged in farming until the fall of 1867, 
when he removed to Boone county, Illinois, 
and worked on farms by the month for a 
time. On the 20th of February, 1868, he 
married Elizabeth A. Shirley, a native of 
Winnebago county, Illinois, and a daughter 
of Lewis and Lucinda (Keith) Shirley, both 
natives of Richland county, Ohio, who came 
to Illinois, in 1840, and settled on govern- 
ment land, an eighty-acre tract of which 
they secured at a dollar and twenty-five 
cents per acre. That tract was only the 
beginning, Mr. Shirley acquiring before his 
death over one thousand acres of good 
land. He died in Cherry Valley, Winne- 
bago county. May 13, 1898. The Shirley 
family were also patriotic, some of the an- 
cestry of Mr. Shirley serving in the Revolu- 
tionary war and in the second war with 
Great Britain. 

In 1875, Captain Van Wert came to De 
Kalb county, and purchased the farm where 
he now resides, consisting of one hundred 
acres of good tillable land. He has been fairly 
successful in his farming operations, being 
practical in all his methods. His interest 
the Civil war is kept alive by membership in 
Thomas Humphrey Post, No. 530, G. A. R., 
at Kirkland. He is also a member of Kirk- 
land Camp, No. 141, M. W. A., of Kirk- 
land. In politics he is an enthusiastic Re- 
publican, believing firmly in the principles 
of the party, and acting up to his convic- 
tions h\ giving earnest support to its candi- 
dates. 



382 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



JACOB GIVENS is one of the old and 
substantial farmers of Malta township, 
his farm being located on section 34. He 
was born in Charleston, Montgomery coun- 
ty, New \ork. April 12, 181 5, and is the 
son of Joseph and Rachel (Stewart) Givens. 
By occupation Joseph Givens was a miller 
in early life, but in later years abandoned 
it for agricultural pursuits. He removed 
from Charleston to Otsego countv. New 
York, where he purchased a farm, upon 
which he spent the remainder of his life. 
He was a man of pure morals and upright 
principles, whose life was governed by the 
golden rule. He died in 1838, at the age 
of seventy-three years, his wife having pre- 
ceded him, dying in 1833, at the age of fifty- 
six years. Their family consisted of ten 
children, and Jacob is the only surviving 
member. 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
in Otsego county, New York, where he re- 
ceived a fairly good education for the time. 
He remained under the parental roof until 
after he attained his majorit}', assisting in 
the cultivation of the home farm. When 
twenty-two years of age, he commenced 
working out by the day and month. On 
the i6th of December, 1841, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Deborah Stewart, a 
daughter of Daniel and Hannah Stewart. 
About two years after this event he bought 
his first farm of fifty acres in Chemung 
county, New York, where he remained thir- 
teen years, during which time nine children 
were born, two of whom died in infancy. 
Those that grew to mature years were Chris- 
topher, born June 4, 1843; Loren G., June 
9, 1845; Sarah A., April 26, 1847; Albert 
and Adelbert, twins, July 14, 1S48; Har- 
riet E., February 28, 1853; and Clarence 
F., August 9, 1855. Of these Loren C, 



died June 24, i860, and Harriet E., June 
21. 1895. 

In 1855 Mr. Given sold his farm m Che- 
mung county. New York, and in the fol- 
lowing year removed to Illinois, locating at 
Shabbona Grove, De Kalb county. After 
his removal two more children were born, 
Fidelia A., January 1, 1858, and Laura E., 
November i, 1861. After working on a 
farm in Shabbona Grove for four years, Mr. 
Given removed to Malta, Illinois, where he 
lived about three years, and then purchased 
his present farm of eighty acres which is verj- 
pleasantly situated. Here he has conducted 
farming on general prini:iples, not running 
to any special line. Besides the home 
farm, he owns one hundred and twenty acres 
of land in Dakota. Mrs. Givens, who was 
born at Cayuta, New York, February 14, 
1 81 8, died at Malta, May i, 1895, aged 
seventy-seven years. Mr. Givens has never 
united with any local church, but is an hon- 
est, upright and conscientious man. Po- 
litically he is a Republican. 



DD. BROWN, mayor of the city of De 
Kalb, is one of her choice and trusted 
citizens. From 1879 to the present time 
he has held important offices in the city, 
and has never shrunk from duty, never over- 
looked trifles as too insignificant to be 
noticed, nor never faltered in the pursuit of 
that which inhanced the interest of the peo- 
ple who placed him in office. His motto 
has ever been, not only the greatest good 
to the greatest number, hat the greatest 
good to all. 

Mr. Brown is well born and is the son of 
C. M. and Catherine A. (De Pue) Brown, 
and was horn at Belvidere, New Jersey, Au- 
gust 26, 1845. His parents were both na- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



383 



tives of New Jersey, his father born in Ches- 
ter and his mother in Belvidere. The for- 
mer was of English extraction and the latter 
of Holland and French parentage. C. M. 
Brown was one of Belvidere's prominent 
business men, and in his younger days ac- 
quired his knowledge of the mercantile busi- 
ness in the city of Newark, New Jersey. 
With his family he removed from Belvidere, 
New Jersey, to Sycamore, Illinois, in 1841, 
and there engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness until 1859, at which time he was 
elected circuit clerk and recorder of De 
Kalb county. This position he held and its 
duties he faithfully and conscientiously dis- 
charged for four years. At the expiration 
of this period he removed to Chicago, 
where he engaged in the stave and heading 
business, which he successfully pursued un- 
til 1870, when he returned to Sycamore, 
where he died in March of the same year. 
C. M. Brown was twice married, his first 
wife, Catherine, the mother of D. D. Brown, 
dying in 1849, when the latter was but four 
years of age. For his second wife he mar- 
ried Miss Louise A. Jackman, a native of 
New York, who survived him, and by whom 
he had three children, two yet living — Fred 
C. , of San Antonia, Texas, and M. L. , a 
commission merchant of Chicago. The 
De Pues were people noted for their intelli- 
gence and influence. The youngest brother 
of Mrs. Brown, Abraham De Pue, was pay- 
master in the navy, while her eldest brother, 
David A. De Pue, is judge of one of the 
courts in Newark, New Jersey. 

D. D. Brown was reared and educated at 
Sycamore, but took a course at Valparaiso, 
Indiana. At the conclusion of his school 
days he entered the dry-goods store of Rog- 
ers & Wild, where he proved himself an ef- 
ficient and faithful employee. About this 



time the dark and stormy days of the Re- 
bellion were on us. Our nation's honor was 
at stake and men were needed. In obedi- 
ence to the call Mr. Brown enlisted in 1864 
(his age preventing him from an earlier en- 
listment), and served as a member of Com- 
pany F, One Hundred and Thirty-second 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, O. M. Bunnell, 
captain, and T. |. Pickett, colonel. With 
his regiment he served in the Army of the 
Tennessee, with which they were connected 
until the close of the war. He was honor- 
ably discharged at Chicago and returned to 
his home. 

On his return to civil life Mr. Brown en- 
tered into the employ of his father, who 
was at that time engaged in the stave and 
heading business at Chicago, and there re- 
mained one year. In 1867 he obtained a 
position as captain of a passenger steam- 
boat plying between Paducah, Kentucky, 
and Eastport, Tennessee. In 1868 he re- 
turned to Sycamore, where he engaged with 
George P. Wilde, a member of the firm for 
which he worked previous to the war. In 
the spring of 1874 he formed a co-partner- 
ship with C. A. Tindall, of De Kalb, under 
the firm name of Tindall & Brown, in the 
mercantile business, and two years later 
purchased his partner's interest and took 
entire charge of the business, in which he 
continued until 1883, when he sold to 
Charles Reed, of Elburn. At this time he 
formed another partnership with P. G. 
Young in the lumber business, which they 
extensively and successfully pursued under 
the firm name of Brown & Young. In the 
spring of 1892 he sold his interest to Mr, 
Young, since which time he has been en- 
gaged as shipping clerk with the Superior 
Barb Wire Company-, afterwards changed 
to the Ellwood Wire and Nail Company, 



384 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and which has now been absorbed by the 
American Steel & Wire Company. 

On the 8th of February. 1872, Mr. 
Brown was united in marriage with Miss 
Alice E. Ellwood, a daughter of Hiram and 
Sarah (Dygart) Ellwood, and by this union 
two children were born, Zaida E., July 29, 
1878, and Sarah Louise, November 27, 
1 88 1. Mrs. Brown was born at Herkimer, 
New York, October 19, 1851. Her educa- 
tion was begun in the public schools of De 
Kalb, and completed in Xavier's Academy, 
Chicago. She is a refined and highly edu- 
cated lady, and a member of the Eastern 
Star. 

Mr. Brown is a decided Republican and 
has been actively interested in the adminis- 
tration of the municipal affairs of De Kalb. 
He was elected alderman in 1879 and 
served faithfully and well in said office. 
After serving three terms as alderman, in 
1883, he was elected mayor of the city and 
served four years. In 1891 and in 1892 he 
was elected and served as fire marshal of 
the city. In 1895 he was again elected to 
the office of mayor and re-elected in 1897, 
and is yet tilling the position. 

Mr. Brown has the entire confidence, 
not only of his political associates, but of 
the entire city of De Kalb. His spotless 
character, his upright life, his amiable and 
sociable disposition, make him a desirable 
companion, and increase his already numer- 
ous friends, who are willing to place their 
interests in his hands. He is prominent in 
the ^Masonic fraternity, and like all good 
fellows, who have deservedly traveled the 
way before him, has had conferred upon 
him the thirty-second degree. He is also a 
member of the Royal Arcanum and the G. 
A. R. Post, at De Kalb, in the latter of 
which he was commander in 1897. in 



1887 he broadened his mind, and added to 
his already extensive knowledge, by an ex- 
tended tour through Europe, visiting Eng- 
land, Ireland, Scotland, Holland, Germany, 
Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, France and 
Italy. 



LEX] S. HODGE, deceased, was for 
many years a well-known citizen of 
De Kalb county. He was born m Che- 
nango, Broome county. New York, Decem- 
ber 20, 1815, and was reared in his native 
state and there resided until 1853, when he 
came west. When a young man he read 
medicine, but abandoned the medical pro- 
fession for that of the law, which he prac- 
ticed some years in his native state and 
after coming to Sycauiore, Illinois. He 
was twice married, first to Harriet Davis, 
by whom he had five children, only one 
now surviving, Levi Hodge, of Sitka, 
Alaska. His second union was with Mrs. 
Adelia A. Holroyd, widow of James Hol- 
royd, the wedding ceremony being cele- 
brated September 20, 1890. 

Mrs. Hodge was born in Mongoquihon 
Prairie, St. Joseph county, Michigan, in 
1837. She is the daughter of Daniel M. 
Thurston, a native of Broome county. New 
York, born in August, 1S20, and a son of 
Daniel Thurston. He came to Michigan 
when three years of age, and to Illinois in 
1840, residing for the first two years in 
Chicago. In 1842 he came to De Kalb 
county and located in Kingston township, 
where he engaged in farming for eight years, 
and selling out purchased a farm in Genoa 
township, where he remained five years. 
He then went back to Michigan and there 
lived fi\'e vears, but again returnerl to Genoa 
township, where he rented a farm one year 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



385 



and then went to Bremer county, Iowa, 
where he remained four years. From 
Bremer county he moved to Fort Scott, 
Kansas, but returned to Iowa and died in 
Butler county. He married Melissa D. 
Phelps, daughter of William and Cynthia 
Phelps. She was probably born in Penn- 
sjlvania and died at the age of seventy 
years. 

Mrs. Hodge first married in Genoa town- 
ship, July 4, 1855, James Holroyd, who was 
born near Petersborough, Canada, in 1820, 
and died in iSSi. He was the son of Will- 
iam and Mary (Anson) Holroyd, natives of 
Leeds, Yorkshire, England, who emigrated 
to Canada in the spring of 1820. William 
Holroyd was the son of Benjamin, a gentle- 
man farmer in England, who married Grace 
Hardwick. By her first marriage Mrs. 
Hodge became the mother of five children. 
( I ) Maggie D. is the wife of Frank J. Drake, 
of Kingston township, by whom she has six 
children: Alta, Edna, Jennie, Warren, 
Birdie and Marie. (2) Grace B. married 
Ira Westover, and they have eight children: 
Fannie, Byron, Eva, May, Benjamin, 
Frank, William and Edith. They reside in 
Cerro Gordo county, Iowa. (3) Herbert 
H. married Frankie Hawks, and they reside 
in Kingston, Illinois. (4) Albert J. married 
Belle Thurlby, and they have one daughter. 
Myrtle. Their residence is in Martin coun- 
ty, Minnesota. Guy W. married Nellie 
McAvoy, and is engaged in the implement 
business in Sycamore. 

Levi S. Hodge was a very prosperous 
man and was the owner of several farms in 
De Kalb county. For four years prior to 
his death he served as justice of the peace. 
He died February 25, 1897, leaving many 
friends in Sycamore and De Kalb county to 
mourn his loss. Mrs. Hodge is a member 



of the Congregational church of Sycamore 
and also of the W'oman's Christian Tem- 
perance Union, in both of which she takes 
a very active part. She is of an artistic 
turn of mind and has some fine portrait 
work of members of her own family. 



HENKY KLINE, a substantial farmer 
and one of the early settlers of De 
Kalb county, resides on section 8, Franklin 
township. He is a native of Richland 
county, Ohio, born .March 4, 1822, and is 
the son of Jacob and Susan ( Keith) Kline, 
both natives of Huntingdon county, Penn- 
sylvania. They were the parents of ten 
children, John, Adam, William, Jacob, 
.Michael, Henrw Simon, Jackson, Margaret 
and Matilda. All are deceased but Simon 
and our subject. Thu paternal grandfather, 
Jacob Kline, was also a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and a farmer by occupation. In an 
early day Jacob Kline moved with his fam- 
ily to Richland county, Ohio, and there our 
subject was reared and educated. In 1846 
he came to Illinois and worked by the day 
on farms in Boone county. On the 22d of 
November, i S47, he married Maria Keith, a 
native of Morgan county, Ohio, and a 
daughter of Bolser and Lucy (Smith) Keith, 
the former a native of Huntingdon county, 
Pennsylvania, and the latter of New York 
state. Of their family of ten children one 
died in infancy. Those who lived to ma- 
turity were Phebe, Michael, Lucinda, 
Rhoda, Maria, Margaret, Bolser, Benjamin 
and Charlotte. The paternal grandfather 
of Mrs. Kline, Peter Keith, was a native of 
Germany and came to America in an early 
day. Mrs. Kline came west with her pa- 
rents in 1837 to Winnebago county, Illinois, 
where her father purchased one hundred 



386 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and twent}' acres of government land, to 
which he later added, giving him a large 
and excellent farm. 

For some years Mr. Kline worked at the 
mason's and carpenter's trade, but of late 
years he has given his attention exclusively 
to farming. He purchased the farm where 
he now resides, consisting of one hundrerl 
and thirty acres, on section 8, Franklin 
township, in 1851. The improvements 
which have been made upon it are quite ex- 
tensive and the farm is now one of the best 
in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Kline 
six children were born, two of whom died 
in infancy. Those living are Margaret A., 
Bolser, Jacob and Libby. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kline are members of the United Brethren 
church and in politics he is an independent, 
voting for men rather than party. While 
he came to this country with but little 
means, by his industry, assisted by his good 
wife, he is now in comfortable circum- 
stances and has the utmost respect of all 
who know him. 



REV. ALVARO ALLEN CROCKER, of 
Genoa, Illinois, was born on the Indian 
reservation, northwest of Batavia, Genesee 
county. New \'ork, April 27, 1826. His 
f-ither. Rev. Allen Crocker, was born in 
Shutesbury, Massachusetts, April 14, 1793, 
and died February 7, 1871. He began 
preaching at the age of sixteen, and was a 
minister of wonderful power, and considered 
one of the finest sermonizers in the Chris- 
tian denomination in northern Illinois, as 
strong in his ministry as Peter Cartwright. 
He was in active service in the ministry for 
over sixty years. About seven years before 
his death he suffered a stroke of paralysis, 
and at end of that time received two strokes 



in one day. He served in the war of 1812. 
Allen Crocker was a son of Rev. Theopholis 
Crocker, a native of Shutesbury, one of the 
best known ministers in western New York. 
He was quite famous in his day, and an ex- 
tended sketch of his life is found in History 
of the Ministry of \\'estern New York. He 
had a great memory and could repeat the 
book of Revelations entire and whole chap- 
ters in the Gospel. He was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, and also in the war of 
18 I 2. In stature he was quite large, and 
weighed about two hundred pounds. He 
died at the age of ninety two years. The 
family in this country are descended from 
three brothers, who came from England in 
colonial days. For generations the family 
have been deeply religious, a number of 
them including two brothers of Allen 
Crocker, Alfred and Orrin, being in the 
ministry. 

Allen Crocker married Sophronia Tacles, 
born July 11;, 1804, near Wyoming, New 
York. Their marriage v^as solmnized May 
26, 1825. She was a daughter of Alexan- 
der Tacles, a farmer bj' occupation and 
one of the first settlers of Allen's Creek, in 
Wyoming county, New York. He was born 
in Massachusetts, and was of Scotch de- 
scent. He married Philena Howard, born 
November 26, 1765, their marriage being 
celebrated April 16, 1800. The Tacles 
went from Massachusetts to New York, set- 
tling in Wyoming county, when it was all 
heavily timbered land. Mrs. Allen Crocker 
was a well educated woman, a graduate of 
Wyoming Academy, after which she en- 
gaged in teaching until after her marriage. 
She became the mother of six children, 
three of whom survive, our subject and 
Philena, widow of Samuel Stephens; Elvira, 
widow of Gilbert Maxfield. 



tHE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3^7 



When our subject was thirteen years of 
age the family moved from New York to 
Ohio and for two years resided five miles 
west of Oberlin and two years one and one- 
half miles south of Euclid where his father 
had a charge. They then moved back to 
Genesee county, New York, locating at 
Bethany Center, where they remained two 
years, and then resided one year six miles 
west of Rochester, New York, from which 
place in 1844 our subject emigrated to Ogle 
county. New York, his father following in 
the spring of 1845. I" the spring of 1846, 
Mr. Crocker came to Genoa, and having se- 
cured a certificate, engaged in teaching, an 
occupation in which he continued for nine 
years, five of which he taught in De Kalb 
county, and four in McHenr}- county. He 
studied theology at Meadville, Pennsylvania, 
in the Christian and Unitarian Academy, 
and was ordained to the ministry in the 
spring of 1857, in the Christian Chapel, at 
Belvidere, Illinois, and for thirty years after 
filled pulpits in various churches near his 
home. He bought a farm three miles north 
of Genoa, which was his home until he re- 
tired from active life in 1882. He has since 
had no regular charge, but frequently fills 
pulpits in emergency, and presides at wed- 
dings and funerals whenever called upon. 

Mr. Crocker was married January i, 
1856, three miles north of Genoa, to Su- 
sannah Buck, born in Shrewsbury township, 
Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and a 
daughter of Peter Buck, a native of Muncy, 
Pennsylvania, who came west in 1855, lo- 
cating near Genoa, where his death occurred 
at the age of sixty-si.\ years and seven 
months. In his native state he engaged in 
farming and in lumbering, having sixteen 
hundred acres of land in Lycoming county, 
Pennsylvania. He came west with a view 



of affording better opportunities for his chil- 
dren, and bought farms for each of his five 
sons in Ogle county, and a farm of five hun- 
dred acres for himself, near Marengo. Peter 
Buck was a son of Henry Buck, a farmer 
and miller in Pennsylvania, who in early life 
was by trade a shoemaker, but who died 
when Peter was ten years old. He married 
Mary Rotharmal, a native of Holland. 
Peter Buck married Louisa Holmes, born in 
the town of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, and 
who removed with her parents in girlhood 
to Shrewsbury township, Lycoming county, 
Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of 
John and Mary (Knott) Holmes, who traces 
their anceslry to Thomas Holmes, who came 
to America with William Penn. Of the 
fifteen children born to Peter Buck and 
wife, seven survive. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Crocker three children 
have been born. ( i ) Ellery Channing, born 
November 4, 1857, was educated in the 
common schools, and after completing his 
education taught school some five or six 
years. After reading law at Sycamore, with 
Joseph Stephens, he was admitted to the 
bar, and for several years was engaged in 
practice at Sycamore. He married Minne- 
haha Steele, by whom he has one son. Loyal 
Ellery. He now resides in Charles Mix 
county, South Dakota, near Yankton, where 
he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, 
and leases seventeen hundred acres from the 
Indians. (2) Jennie Virginia married Ed- 
ward Wilcox, of Elgin, by whom she had 
one son, Ellery. Mr. Wilcox is now de- 
ceased. (3) Ora married Fred Smith, sec- 
retary of the Stover Bicycle Company, of 
Freeport, Illinois. 

In politics Mr. Crocker is a Republican, 
and an earnest advocate of the principles of 
the party. For many years he served as 



388 



thp: biographical Record. 



road comtnissioner, and also as school di- 
rector of his district. Until 1867 he was a 
member of the Christian church, since which 
time he has been connected with the Regu- 
lar Adventists. He was a member of the 
conference of northern Illinois until he re- 
tired from active service, in 1890. He is a 
\()luminous writer for the religious press, 
his specialty being in writing and expound- 
ing prophec)' and translation. Fraternally 
he has been a member of the Masonic lodge 
at Genoa. 



HON. LUTHER LOWELL, ex-judge 
of the county and probate courts of 
De Kalb county, comes of one of the best 
known families in America. The family is 
one of the oldest in this country as well as 
in England. .About the year 1300, if not 
earlier, Walter and William Lowle (as the 
name was then spelled) resided at Yeardley, 
England. Between them and Percival 
Lowle are nine generations, of whom a rec- 
ord exists, giving names of each and dates 
of birth. Percival Lowle, who was born in 
England in 1571, emigrated to the Ameri- 
can colonies in 1639 with Rebecca, his wife, 
and settled in Massachusetts. John Lowle, 
son of Percival, was also born in England. 
He emigrated with his wife, Mary, and four 
children in 1639, and died in 1647. His 
son Benjamin, born at Newbury, Massachu- 
setts, September 12, 1642, married Ruth 
Woodman, of Newbury, Massachusetts, 
October 17, 1666. With their son, John 
Lowell, came the change in the spelling of 
the name. His birth occurred at Newbury, 
Massachusetts, February 22, 1683. He 
first married Mary Davis, and after her 
death married Sarah L. Bailey in 1729. 
His son David, born January 12, 1716, at 



Haverhill, Massachusetts, married Mary 
Blood, of Mason, New Hampshire. David's 
son Peter, born December 28, 1752, at 
Groton, Massachusetts, died in 1840 at 
Dempster, New Hampshire. He served 
through the Revolutionar)' war as a mem- 
ber of Captain Ezra Towner's company, in 
Colonel James Reed's regiment. He mar- 
ried Eunice Funk and to them was born in 
1793 Martin Luther Lowell, the father of 
our subject, who died in Sycamore in 1884, 
at the ripe old age of ninety-one years. He 
was a farmer by occupation, and about 1831 
moved from Brookfield, Vermont, to Morel, 
Vermont, and in 1845 to Bristol, in the 
same state. He married Malinda C. I-a- 
porte. who was born June 6, 1798, in New 
Jersey. Ten of their children reached ma- 
ture life. After his children had become 
established in the west he made his home 
with them and died as already stated. 

Luther Lowell, of this sketch, was born 
in Brookfield, Vermont, May 14, 1827, and 
was sixth in order of birth in the family of 
thirteen children born to his parents. After 
attending the district schools he entered 
Hinesburg Academy and, owing to sharp 
competition, tuition and board being very 
low in various places where academies had 
been established, he was offered good board 
at one dollar per week and changed to 
Spaulding's Academy at Bakersfield. He 
began teaching at the age of eighteen years, 
being large and well developed for his age. 
Entering the college at Middlebury, \'er- 
mont, he graduated m 1851 with the degree 
of A. B., and in 1854 received that of A. M. 
A friend teaching at EUicottville, New 
York, about fifty miles south of Buffalo, 
desiring to return to college, secured the 
school for our subject, who taught it in the 
winter of i 8s 1-2. He was then offered the 




HON. LUTHER LOWELL. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



391 



principalship of the Rutland Academy and 
served that school for two years. He was 
ne.xt professor of Latin, Greek and rhetoric 
in the academy at Flushing, Long Island, 
and while there had as a pupil Cornelius 
Vanderbilt. 

While teaching at Flushing, Mr. Lowell 
had the misfortune to step off the landing 
in the dark, and falling down the stairway 
to the floor, had his arm broken. About 
this time his sister's husband, who had been 
living in De Kalb county, died, and for a 
change of air and to help his sister, he came 
west, arriving at Sycamore, September 29, 
1856. Before coming west he had com- 
menced to read law, and arriving here, he 
entered the law office of Mayo &James, and 
continued his reading under their instruction, 
until April, 1857, when he was admitted to 
the bar for practice in the various courts of 
Illinois. In his first year's practice he ex- 
perienced great inconvenience on account of 
the panic of 1857. That panic, however, 
later brought him much business in the legal 
line. Soon after being admitted to the bar, 
he formed a partnership with Mayo & 
James, which continued a few months, when 
he formed a partnership with Mr. James 
and Chauncey EUwood, which lasted about 
two years, when the partnership was dis- 
solved, and Mr. Lowell associated with him- 
self, J. Frank Meeker, now a prominent at- 
torney in the west. 

On the 20th of February, 1S59, at 
Sycamore, Illinois, Mr. Lowell was united 
in marri;ige with Miss Ann P. James, who 
was born May i, 1833, and the daughter of 
Levi and C3 rene (Batchelder) James. No 
children came to bless their union, but he 
and his wife reared to mature years Lavinia 
S., now wife of George W". Dunton, with 
whom the ludge makes his home, and Gil- 

19 



bert H. Denton. The latter studied law 
under the instruction of his adopted father, 
and is now in the manufacturing business in 
Denver, Colorado. 

In 1869 Mr. Lowell was elected to the 
position of county judge, to which he was 
re-elected in 1873. On the expiration of 
his second official term, January i, 1878, he 
formed a partnership with D. J. Carnes, 
which existed until April 3, 1883, when the 
Judge was elected to fill a vacancy in the 
position he had formerly held, made by the 
resignation of Hon. S. B. Stinson, of Sand- 
wich, Illinois. 

In his long professional career. Judge 
Lowell has much to be proud of. He has 
been eminently successful in the trial of 
cases, rarely losing a cause he espoused, and 
his arduous labors have brought him a lib- 
eral competency. His professional cares 
have been free from trickery and question- 
able practices, so often resorted to by mem- 
bers of the bar. His mind is analytical, 
logical and inductive. With a thorough and 
comprehensive knowledge of the funda- 
mental principles of law, he combines a fa- 
miliarity with statutory law, and a sober, 
clear judgment, which makes him not onl}' 
a formidable adversary in legal combat, but 
has given the distinction of being a very able 
jurist. While upon the bench, he showed 
his peculiar fitness for the position by his 
cool and even temperament, never being 
swayed by any of the tricks of the profes- 
sion, and when his judgment was rendered, 
it was always found to be correct in law, as 
well as in sound common sense. 

Judge Lowell has ever been a voracious 
reader, and his fine library and excellent se- 
lection of books shows the bent of his mind. 
He has taken the Cincinnati Tribune since 
1863, and the Atlantic Monthly since the 



39^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



same tune. Securing the previous numbers 
he now has a complete set of the Monthly, 
comprising eighty volumes, which by his will, 
at his death, goes to the public library of 
Sycamore. 



WILLIAM WATSON, who resides on 
section 26, Paw Paw township, has 
been a resident of De Kalb county since 
1 85 1, a period of forty-seven jears. He 
was born in Sussex, England, April 18, 18 18, 
and is the son of William Watson, Sr. , also 
a native of Sussex, England, who there 
married Elizabeth Jarrett, a native of the 
same county, and in 1828 emigrated with 
his family to the New World, taking pas- 
sage in a sailing vessel from London, and 
being about one month on the ocean, a 
very quick passage for those days. He set- 
tled in Albany, New York, where he found 
employment in a ship yard, and there spent 
the remainder of his life. 

Our subject was but ten years of age 
when he accompanied his parents across the 
water, and in Albany, New York, grew to 
manhood. In 1838, when but twenty years 
old, he married Agnes Ferguson, a native 
of Ireland, of Scotch and English descent. 
Her father, W'illiam Ferguson, was of 
Scotch descent, while her mother was of 
English parentage. After his marriage he 
moved to Oswego, New York, where he 
learned his trade, that of carpenter and 
joiner, and was employed in his trade until 
185 1, when he came to De Kalb county, 
Illinois, joining some old neighbors from 
New York, among whom was George C. 
Cooper, who located here some three years 
previously. His first purchase was seventy 
acres of unimproved land, on which he 
erected a small house, and commenced the 



improvement of the place. For about two 
years he worked at his trade in connection 
with farming, and later purchased eighty 
acres adjoining the home place, making him 
a valuable farm of one hundred and fifty 
acres. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, six children 
were born, four of whom are yet living. 
One died in infancy, and Elizabeth N. grew 
to womanhood, and died when about twenty- 
eight years of age. The living are Robert 
T. , a farmer of Victor township; William, 
married, and residing in California, where he 
is engaged in the apiary business; Edward 
M., married, and residing on the old home 
farm; and James, a farmer of Paw Paw 
township. Edward M. married Ann Hare, 
a native of De Kalb county, by whom he 
has three living children. One died at the 
age of nine years. The living are James, 
Ezra G. and May. 

Politically Mr. Watson is a stanch Re- 
publican. In early life he was a Democrat, 
and cast his first presidential ballot for 
James K. Polk. He voted for Fremont in 
1856, and has cast his presidential ballot 
for every nominee of the party from that 
time to the present. He has never sought 
nor would he e\'er hold office. His son, 
Edward M., is also a stanch Republican. 
For almost half a century he has been a 
resident of De Kalb county. When became 
to the county it was little better than a 
wilderness, and he has lived to see it take 
rank among the best of the great Prairie 
state. 



Mr 



YRON M. DEAN is one of the younger 
mers of De Kalb county, and re- 
sides on section 3, Sycamore township, 
where he is engaged in general farming and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



393 



stock raising. He was born in Genoa 
township, a short distance from his present 
residence, November 4, 1864, and is the 
son of Divine Dean, born in Sullivan coun- 
ty, New York, December 14, 1834, and who 
died September 16, 1897. Divine Dean 
grew to manhood in his native state, and 
came west at the age of twenty-one years. 
Three years later he married Lucinda 
Evans, a native of De Kalb county, born in 
Charter Grove, September 11, 1838, and a 
daughter of Benjamin and Frances (Perry) 
E\ans. Benjamin Evans was the son of 
William and Ola (Mitchell) Evans. Frances 
Perry was a daughter of William and Char- 
ity (Dean) Perry, the former a native of 
Ashe count)'. North Carolina, born October 
20, 1782, and who died in Virginia at the 
age of ninety-two years. William Perry 
was the son of Ebenzer and Christina 
Perry, and Charity Dean was a daughter of 
Jacob and Frances Dean. 

Myron M. Dean was reared on the home 
farm, and began his education in the dis- 
trict schools, then attended the Sycamore 
high schools for two years, the Paw Paw 
seminary one year, and the Genoa high 
school for two winters. He lived in Syca- 
more the greater part of the time, from 
1875 to 1879, and it was during this period 
that he attended the Sycamore high school. 
Later he resided at Anamosa, Iowa, for 
nearly two years, then returned to Syca- 
more, and subsequently removed to his 
present farm. He remained with his father 
until after attaining his majority, then 
worked for various farmers for a year and a 
half, after which he rented his father's farm, 
until the latter's death in September, 1897, 
since which time he has continued to rent 
the estate, consisting of one hundred and 
forty acres of excellent farming land. As a 



stock farmer he has met with success, buy- 
ing and feeding for the general market. 

Mr. Dean was married in Genoa, Illi- 
nois, to Miss Lenna Z. Brown, a native of 
Genoa township, and a daughter of James 
P. and Susan Brown, of whose family a 
more extended account is found elsewhere 
in this work. By this union two children 
have been born, Jessie and Earl. In poli- 
tics Mr. Dean is thoroughly independent, 
voting for men, not party. 



JOHN S. AMES is the owner of a farm 
comprising one hundred and sixteen and 
a quarter acres in section 32, Shabbona 
township. He was born in Norfolk, Eng- 
land, June 29, 1848, and is the son of Will- 
iam and Ann (Smith) Ames, both natives 
of England, where their entire lives were 
spent, both dying when about ninety years 
of age. He grew to manhood in Norfolk 
and Suffolk, and in his boyhood had fair 
common-school advantages. He was reared 
on a farm and later was employed on the 
public works. He was married in Suffolk, 
October 11, 1868, to Eliza Levell, a native 
of Suffolk, England, and a daughter of 
James Levell, who was a contractor on the 
public works, and also engaged in office 
work, being a man of fine education. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ames attended the same school 
and grew to man and ft'omanhood in the 
same locality. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ames commenced their 
domestic life in Suffolk, where he ran a 
small store which he continued a few years, 
then sold out and in 1874 came to the Uni- 
ted States. Landing at New York, they 
came direct to De Kalb county, Illinois, 
where some English friends were residing, " 
and through whose influence thev came to 



394 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



this country. On their arrival Mr. Ames 
went to work on the farm by the day and 
n^onth at Greentown and there resided for 
three years. He then rented a farm in 
Shabbona township for eight years, and in 
1885 purchased the farm where they now 
reside. The place was slightly improved, 
but since locating here he has added to the 
improvements already made by tiling the 
land and the erection of a dwelling house 
and various outbuildings. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ames are the parents of 
four children. Anna is the wife of Dave 
Ferguson, a farmer of Shabbona township. 
Charles J. married and engaged in farming 
in Shabbona township. Nettie M. is a well- 
educated young lady and a teacher in the 
public schools of De Kalb county. George 
A. is a young man residing at home and as- 
sisting in the cultivation of the home farm. 

In 1884 Mr. Ames cast his first presi- 
dential vote for James G. Blaine, and has 
since given his support to the men and 
measures of the Republican party. Averse 
to office holding, he has yet been prevailed 
upon to serve as director in his school dis- 
trict, being a stanch advocate of good 
schools. While not members, Mr. and Mrs. 
Ames are attendants of the West Shabbona 
Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally 
they are both members of the Home Forum. 



HENRY EUHUS is one of that great 
nuir.ber of men who came from the 
fatherland to free America, that they might 
have an opportunity to better their condi- 
tion in life, and who by their industry and 
thrift, have added greatly to the material 
wealth of the country. He was born in 
Hanover, Prussia, Germany, November 4, 
1842, and is the son of Jacob and Mary 



(Mylker) Euhus, both natives of the same 
country. Jacob Euhus was a soldier in the 
Prussian army for ten years, and had his 
nose and one ear shot off in battle. In 
1855 he left his native land for America, and 
was seven weeks on the ocean. Landing at 
New Orleans, from there he came up the 
Mississippi river to St. Louis, then to Du- 
buque, Iowa, and from there to Freeport, 
Illinois, where he was accidentally killed on 
the railroad, leaving a widow and son in a 
strange land. The widow later married 
again, choosing for her husband John .'\ckert, 
also a native of Germany. He enlisted in 
Company F, Forty-fifth Regiment, Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, at Cherry N'alley, Illi- 
nois, and was killed in battle at Fort Henry. 
His widow later received a pension, and 
two hundred dollars back pay. Henry 
Euhus was the only son of Jacob and Mary 
Euhus, and was thirteen years old when he 
accompanied his parents to the United 
States. His education was obtained in 
his native land, having only the privi- 
lege of attending school for two months 
after his arrival in this countrw The sud- 
den death of his father rendered it neces- 
sary that he should make a living for him- 
self. He grew to manhood in Winnebago 
county, and on the lotli of January, 1866, 
married Miss Rosetta Miller, a native of 
Switzerland, and a daughter of Rudolph and 
Elizabeth (Lesher) Miller, both natives of 
the same countr)', and who were the parents 
of but two children, Malissa and Rosetta. 
Mrs. Euhus came to the United States in 
1859, with her parents, who first located in 
Portsmouth, Ohio, and in i860 came to 
De Kalb county, Illinois. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Euhus twelve children 
have been born, four of whom died in in- 
fancy. Those living are John, William, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



395 



Lizzie, Emma, Fred, Elmer, Joseph and 
and Hattie. Religiously he and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and in politics he is a Republican. Mr. 
Euhus started in life without a cent, and 
for years worked by the month for various 
farmers and others, and it required some 
years of toil before he was enabled to make 
his first purchase of land. In 1S67 he 
purchased forty acres in Franklin township, 
near Kirkland, on section 14, and at once 
commenced its improvement. From time 
to time he added to his possessions until he 
has now two hundred and thirty acres, all of 
which is under the highest state of cultiva- 
tion, with improvements in keeping with the 
day and age. 



ALFRED KING, deceased, was a well- 
known citizen of Genoa township, re- 
siding on section 34. He was born in the 
town of Braceville, Trumbull county, Ohio, 
May 24, 184S, and was the son of William 
King, born June 6, 18 17, in Essex county, 
New York, and the grandson of Reuben and 
Ro.xina (De Wolf) King, both natives of 
Massachusetts, who in an early day moved 
to New York. William King married Mrs. 
Hannah (Dowd) Miller, widow of William 
Miller, and a native of New York, born De- 
cember 12, I S 17. Of their five children, 
Alfred was third in order of birth. William 
King died at Tilden, Madison countv, Ne- 
braska, May 5, 1888. 

Alfred King came to Illinois at the age 
of five years, and was reared on the old 
homestead taken up by his father on sec- 
tion 3, Genoa township. His education 
was obtained in the district schools, and 
he began farming for himself at the age of 
eighteen years. He first rented some land, 



but soon purchased eighty acres, with some 
assistance received from his father. He later 
sold that tract and put the money out at in- 
terest and lost it all, and thus had to begin 
with nothing again. He soon bought a farm 
in Genoa township, where Mrs. King now 
resides, and later a farm adjoining, giving 
him two hundred and forty-eight acres in 
Genoa township, together with thirty acres 
of timber land in Sycamore township. He 
became quite prosperous and a very highly 
respected man. In politics he was a Republi- 
can, and served for many years as a school 
director. At the time of his death, which 
occurred July 31, 1897, he was a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and 
took great interest in the Sunday-school 
work, being a teacher in the school. 

Alfred King was twice married, first with 
Mar)' Belinda Evans, daughter of Benjamin 
and Francis (Perry) Evans, and to them 
were born one son, William L. King, of 
whom mention is made elsewhere in this 
work. His second union was with Miss Fan- 
nie Hunt and the marriage ceremony was 
celebrated June 14, 18S2. She was born in 
Lisbon, Kendall county, Illinois, but resided 
the most of her life near Morris, Grundy 
county, Illinois, her education being re- 
ceived in the district school, and a select 
school at Morris, Illinois. She taught 
school for many terms in Grundy county. 
She is a daughter of Peleg T. Hunt, born in 
the town of West Lebanon, Columbia 
county. New York, August 10, 1823, and 
who went to Rensselaer county with his 
parents in the summer of 1836. where he 
attended the district school until the age of 
twenty-one years. His father, William F. 
Hunt, was also a native of Columbia coun- 
ty, born in February, 1798, and died in" 
March, i866, in Grundy county, Illinois, 



396 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



William F. Hunt was a son of Capt. Will- 
iam Hunt, a farmer, born in Norwicii, 
Connecticut, in 1768 and died in 1853. 
His wife was Susanna Fellows, born in 
1768 and died in 1854. His title of cap- 
tain was derived from service in the war of 
1 81 2, as commander of a militia company. 
William F. Hunt married Betsy Tabor, 
born in Rensselaer, New York, in Septem- 
ber, 1791, and a daughter of Gresham Ta- 
bor, who married Anna Finch, a daughter 
of Joseph Finch. Mrs. Betsy Hunt died in 
1878. Peleg T. Hunt was married in Nas- 
sau, Rensselaer county. New York, Decem- 
ber 3, 1846, to Mary Cummings, a native 
of that town and county, born February 9, 
1827, and a daughter of Russell D. and 
Sophia (Thomas) Cuinmings, her father 
being a son of Abel Cummings, and her 
mother a daughter of Silas and Chloe (Very) 
Thomas. To Peleg T. and Mary Hunt four 
children were born, as follows: George W., 
a grain dealer of Charter Grove; Mrs. Leo- 
nora J. Hutchinson, of Joliet, Illinois; Mrs. 
Frances King, widow of our subject ; and 
Mrs. Emma L. Hutchinson, of Joliet. 

To Mr. and Mrs. King three children 
were born: Howard Hunt, Harvey Elbert 
and Edna Jeannette. Mrs. King, who is a 
woman of superior ability, is yet carrying 
on the home farm. She is well known and 
has many friends in Genoa and Sycamore 
townships. 



JE. STOTT, dealer in real estate and 
the efficient mayor of Genoa, was born 
in Maine township, Cook county, Illinois, 
May 2, 1846. His father, Uriah Stott, was 
a native of Yorkshire, England, born in 
1826, and who came to America in 1843, 
coming direct to Cook county, Illinois, 



where he purchased the farm on which our 
subject was born. He married Elizabeth 
M. Thornton, also a native of Yorkshire, 
England, who was killed in a runaway at 
Rand's l^ridge, over the Des Plaines river, in 
Cook count}'. This was in August, 1884, 
her death occurring when she was sixty- 
eight years old. By trade Uriah Stott was 
a tailor and clothier, but engaged in farm- 
ing in Cook county. In politics he was a 
Republican, and held many of the local 
offices in that count\'. He was a Quaker by 
birth, but united with the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, in which faith he died. After 
the death of his wife he retired from active 
business life and moved to Rockford, Illi- 
nois, where his death occurred January i 3, 
1892. \\'ith his wife he twice visited his 
native land after coming to America, but 
both returned to die in their new home. 
They were the parents of five children : 
William T., of Barrington, Illinois ; I.E., 
our subject ; Joseph \\'., of Des Plaines, 
Illinois ; Elizabeth Ann, who died at the 
age of thirteen years, and Charles, residing 
at Des Plaines. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood on his father's farm in Cook county 
and attended the district school until the 
age of eighteen 3'ears. He then spent two 
years in Danforth's Commercial College in 
Chicago, after which he clerked in a gro- 
cery store in that city for a short time. In 
the spring of 1866, in partnership with a 
brother, he engaged in merchandising in 
Chicago, and later removed to Barrington, 
Cook county, where he continued in the 
mercantile business until 1875. He then 
moved to Genoa and engaged in merchan- 
dising, in which he continued until 1884, 
when he sold out, since which time he has 
been in the real-estate business and has 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



397 



hnndled much local real estate, while deal- 
ing quite extensively in southern and west- 
ern lands. In 1892 he laid out fortj'-eight 
acres, which comprises Stott's addition to 
Genoa. He has a farm of one hundred and 
thirty-tive acres near the village, in which 
his sons are interested in the breeding of 
Shetland ponies and registered stock. He 
is also interested in Chicago real estate and 
has some fine holdings in that city. 

Mr. Stott was married in Fremont Cen- 
ter, Lake county, Illinois, October 30, 1872, 
to Miss Josephine M. Millard, of that place, 
born December i i, 1849, and a daughter of 
Johnson and Arvilla M. (Houghton) Millard, 
the latter now living in Wauconda, Lake 
county, Illinois, at the age of sixty-eight 
years. Johnson Millard was a native of 
\'ermont, and in 1850 crossed the plains to 
California, where he remained five years. 
His death occurred in October, 1882. To 
our subject and wife eight children have 
been born, all of whom are yet living. 
Frank H. is employed in the office of the 
Swiss consul in Chicago. Gilbert E. read 
law with Stephens & Early, of Sycamore, 
was admitted to the bar, June 7, 1897, since 
which time he has been engaged in practice 
in Genoa. Grace E., James R. , Zoe A., 
Alfred VV. , Paul E. and Marcus Victor, yet 
remain at home. 

In politics Mr. Stott is a thorough Re- 
publican, and takes an active interest in po- 
litical affairs. He was township treasurer 
while residing in Barrington, and since com- 
ing to Genoa has served some fifteen years 
as a member of the board of education. 
For the past six years he has been mayor 
of the village, the duties of which office he 
discharges faithfulh' and to the satisfaction 
of all. Fraternally he is a member of Odd 
Fellows, including the Rebecca degree, the 



Knights of the Maccabees, and Modern 
Woodmen of America. As an official he 
has the best interests of his town at heart, 
and freely gives of his time to advance its 
material interests. 



LESTER J. BROWNE, one of the 
younger and highly esteemed farmers 
of De Kalb county, owns and cultivates an 
excellent piece of farm land situated on sec- 
tion II, Milan township, and comprising one 
hundred and twenty acres. In improve- 
ments, yield and fertility, his property ranks 
with the best in the county. The residence 
and outbuildings are thoroughly modern, 
and all the improvements, such as fencing, 
tiling, and abundance of shade trees, indi- 
cate a pride and interest in its possession. 
Mr. Browne is a native of De Kalb coun- 
ty, born on the farm where he now resides, 
July 29, i860. His father, Nathaniel 
Browne, was reared and educated within 
three miles of Londonderry, Ireland, and 
comes from a family celebrated for their 
educational attainments, culture and mteg- 
rity. His brother, William, a highly re- 
spected citizen and leading property owner 
of De Kalb county, is a Methodist preacher 
of high repute throughout this section, and 
another brother, who now cultivates the 
home farm in Ireland, studied and graduated 
in law and for several years was a success- 
ful practitioner. Nathaniel was the oldest 
member of the family, and by English law 
the right of primogeniture gave him at his 
father's death all right and title to the fa- 
ther's property, which was considerable. 
Being both young and ambitious and desir- 
ing to see the world, and be the builder of 
his own fortunes, he relinquished all claim- 
to his prospective inheritance, and with his 



398 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



brother, William, came to America in 1855 
and located on a quarter section in Milan 
township, De Kalb county, Illinois. At 
that time the country was thinly settled, 
but with persistence born of determination, 
a healthful vigor and industrious habits, he 
set about cultivating the wild prairie lands, 
making such improvements as his means and 
facilities afforded. On the death of Na- 
thaniel Browne, .April 19, 1896, his farm 
land, consisting of two hundred acres, was 
bequeathed to his son, Lester J., and his 
daughter, Mrs. A\'. H. Smith, the former 
securing one hundred and twenty acres, and 
the latter eighty acres. The mother now 
resides with her daughter, Mrs. Smith, in 
Milan township. 

I^ester J. Browne's school days covered 
the period of his life up to twenty years of 
age. After an elementary education, se- 
cured in the neighboring district schools, 
he entered Jennings Seminary at Aurora and 
for a period studied to acquire a liberal ed- 
ucation. Leaving the seminary he returned 
to the farm and began in earnest the life of 
a farmer On the 32d of February, 1890, 
he married an estimable lady. Miss 'Sarah G. 
Smith, daughter of Henry W. Smith, a well- 
to-do retired farmer residing at De Kalb. 
They are the parents of three children, Les- 
lie N., Henry W. , deceased, and William C. 

Appreciating educational advantages, 
and fully alive to the fact that the standard 
of citizenship is raised through and by means 
of the school room, Mr. Browne has at all 
times given the public schools his ardent 
support. His activity in this direction is 
best understood when it is known that 
nearly all the intervening years since his ma- 
jority he has, in his capacity of school di- 
(lirector, gi\en close attention to educational 
affairs. 



Mr. Browne is a member of the Repub- 
lican party, and his ballot is cast in the in- 
dorsement of its principles and for the nom- 
inees of the conventions of his party, 
whether national, state or county. Follow- 
ing the tradititons and convictions of his 
ancestors, he is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and responds promptly to 
its support by active co-operation in all its 
work. He is of a quiet and retiring dispo- 
sition, affable in address and manners, and 
is one of De Kalb county's younger farmers 
whose probity and honorable methods find 
recognition in the esteem in which he is 
held and spoken of by all who have bad the 
pleasure of his acquaintance. 



ARCHIE G. KENNEDY, an attorney 
residing in De Kalb, where he is en- 
gaged in the active practice of law, was born 
in Midway, Washington count}', Pennsyl- 
vania, August 24, 1866, and is the son of 
Rev. David S. and Nancy W. ( Kelly) Ken- 
nedy, the former a native of Coitsville, 
Mahoning county, Ohio, born .April 25, 
1834, the latter being a native of Indiana, 
Indiana county, Pennsylvania. David S. 
Kennedy received his education in Poland 
Academy, Ohio, and Westminster College, 
Pennsylvania, graduating from the latter 
institution in the class of 1858, his wife also 
graduating in the same class. He received 
his theological training at the Allegheny 
Theological Seminary, completing the course 
in 1 86 1. The degree of D. D. was conferred 
upon him by Parsons College, of Mt. Pleas- 
ant, Iowa, in 1884. His work in the min- 
istry covered a period of thirty-seven years 
in the United Presbyterian church. David 
S. Kenned}' and family moved to De Kalb 
count)- in December, 187S, locating in 




A. G. KENNEDY. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



401 



Somonauk township, where he assuined 
charge of the Somonauk U. P. church. 
He held the charge until December, 
1893, when he retired from ministry and 
moved to Chicago where he remained until 
March, 1898, when he returned to De Kalb 
county. He was a man of superior talents, 
a deep thinker and a fluent speaker. His 
death occurred May 17, 1898. 

His family consisted of ten children, 
five girls, namely: Sarah Elizabeth, Bell, 
Mary, Tillie and Annie Margretta, and five 
boys, namely: Harry, Reid, Archie G., 
James B. and Thomas W. Seven of these 
children are still living, Bell, Mary and 
James B. having preceded their father to 
their final rest; Harry, in February, 1898, 
went to Mariopol, Russia, where he is now 
superintendent of the interests of the Nico- 
pol Mariopol Mining and Metallurgical Com- 
pany; Reid is mayor of Homestead, Penn- 
sylvania; Sarah E. is married to Thomas C. 
Hare and resides in Allegheny City, Penn- 
sylvania; Tillie occupies a position in Chi- 
cago and Annie M. and Thomas W. reside 
with their mother in Victor township, this 
county. 

The subject of this sketch, Archie G. 
Kennedy, has received an unusually thor- 
ough and liberal education, in addition to 
his excellent home training. He com- 
menced his school education in Sewickle}',- 
Pennsylvania; later he attended the high 
school at Sandwich, Illinois, and from 
1882 to 1884 he attended the State Nor- 
mal School at Normal, Illinois. He then 
went to Dakota, where he was engaged as 
a civil engineer, but returned in the fall of 
1884. In 1884-6 he taught school in De 
Kalb county, and in the fall of the latter 
year entered Monmouth College, where he 
spent two years. In 1888 he went to 



Homestead, Pennsylvania, where lor two 
3'ears he was employed in the Carnegie 
Steel Works. He then returned to Mon- 
mouth College, where he completed his 
course and graduated with high honors in 
June, 1892. After graduating he came to 
De Kalb county and read law with Carnes 
& Dunton, prominent attorneys of Sycamore, 
and took charge of their branch office at De 
Kalb. He was admitted to the bar June 
19, 1894, after passing an examination be- 
fore the appellate court at Ottawa, which 
was later confirmed by the supreme court. 
After his admission to the bar Mr. Iven- 
nedy continued with Carnes & Dunton until 
January i, 1895, at which time a partner- 
ship was formed with W. L. Pond, which 
relation lasted until June i, 1897, when Mr. 
Pond was elected county judge. Mr. Ken- 
nedy is one of De Kalb county's promising 
attorneys, and has that material in him by 
birth, training and education which makes 
successful as well as useful and honorable 
men. His patronage keeps pace with his 
growth in favor. 



MARSHAL 
Wherever I 



LL STARK, deceased. — 
there is pioneer work to be 
done, men of energy and ability are re- 
quired, and success or failure depends upon 
the degree of those qualities that is pos- 
sessed. In wresting the land from its nat- 
ural wildness, in fitting it for the habitation 
of men, in developing the natural resources 
of the community in which they live, few if 
any have contributed more largely than 
Marshall Stark, one of the pioneers of De 
Kalb county, who has left a name honored 
and revered. He came to the county in the 
vanguard of civilization, and by his energy- 
and industry, and the exercise of fine busi- 



402 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ness judgment, he accumulated a comfort- 
able fortune, giving his children a start in 
life far beyond that which he possessed. 

Marshall Stark was born in Luzerne 
county, Pennsyhania, August 12, 181 3, and 
was reared in his native county, where he 
received a good practical common school 
education, and for a time engaged in teach- 
ing. He was the son of Oliver and Betsy 
(Di.xon) Stark, both of whom were natives 
of Pennsylvania, descendants from old New 
England stock, springing from the same 
parent stem as General Stark of Benning- 
ton fame. On attaining his majority, in 
the summer of 1834, he came west, and 
located a claim near Rockford, \\'innebago 
county, Illinois, but made no permanent 
settleinent. Iveturning to Penn.sylvania, he 
taught school during the succeeding winter, 
and there remained until the spring of 1837, 
when he came to De Kalb county, Illinois, 
located a claim on what is now sections 20 
and 21, Sycamore township, which he pur- 
chased from the general go\ernment as soon 
as the land came into market. On his ar- 
rival he built a log house near the timber 
and began improving his land. 

In the fall of 1841, Mr. Stark re-visited 
his Pennsylvania home, and on the 5th of 
October he married Miss Louisa Tyler, a 
native of Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- 
vania, born December 16, 1820, in the town 
of Dimock, and the daughter of Royal and 
Mary (Southvvich) Tyler. A few weeks 
later he btou;^ht his young bride to his new 
home, and in the log cabin they lived for 
three years, when he erected a comfortable 
frame house, which was their happy home 
for many long years. From that time he 
began that prosperous career that stamped 
him one of Dc Kalb county's most energetic 
and thriftv men. No little credit for his 



success in life was due to his faithful wife, 
who. coming from the refined east, con- 
tented herself in the lowly cabin, making it 
as comfortable as possible under the circum- 
stances, and who naturally stepped from 
that humble abode to the more pretentious 
one. She was ever a helpmeet to him, in- 
deed, and possessed many of the same 
qualities with which he was endowed. Few 
women have ever shown more energy and 
executive ability than Mrs. Stark. During 
the trip of her husband through the countr}', 
by her vigorous management affairs at home 
went on as smoothly as if the head of the 
house was there. By 1848 Mr. Stark had 
risen to sufficient prominence to be called 
upon to fill the office of sherifTof the county, 
which position he filled for three years. 
During his incumbency of the office he 
opened a hotel in Sycamore which he con- 
ducted for si.x years, and then returned to 
the farm, which was his home during the 
remainder of his life. By the citizens of 
his township he was honored with several 
local offices, serving as assessor, school 
commissioner and supervisor, and was a 
member of the county board at the time of 
his death. 

Mr. Stark was a man of versatile busi- 
ness qualifications. While farming was his 
principal business through life, he became 
interested in the stock and grajn business 
and for years was engaged in buying and 
selling, doing a large and profitable busi- 
ness. Later in life he turned his attention 
to the lumber trade, spencing two winters 
in the pineries of Michigan. In partnership 
with his son Theron, he opened a large 
lumber yard in Sj'camore and developed an 
extensive and profitable business. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Stark ten children 
were born: Harmon M. is a farmer resid- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



403 



ing in Kingston township. Martha S. mar- 
ried Hosea W. Alwood, and lives in Jasper 
county, Iowa. Mary E. married Curtis 
Harris, of Genoa township. Jefferson O., 
Henry J., and Theron M. comprise the 
firm of Stark Bros., dealers in grain, hay and 
stock, at Sycamore, Illinois. Ada L. mar- 
ried James Maitland, and they reside in 
Sycamore township. Ella A. married A. 
W. Brower, of Sycamore. Emma J. mar- 
ried Charles Wiggins, of Story county, 
Iowa. Hattie M. married Burton W. Lee, 
of Sycamore township. 

Of the ten children, all survive, and it 
was the parents' pleasure to see them all 
well married and settled in life. It was a 
comfort to both in their last moments to 
have all their children around their bedside, 
and to have a last look upon each well-loved 
face ere Death claimed his own. Mr. Stark 
was called to his rest December 26, 1882, 
while Mrs. Stark died July i, 1892. They 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church of Sycamore — having contributed 
very materially to its erection, also assisted 
in building two other churches in this 
locality. 



HENRY KOCH, a representative farmer 
of Franklin township, and founder of 
the village of Fairdale, was born in Lycoming 
county, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1S35, and 
is a son of Freerdick and Julia (Speilman) 
Koch, the former a native of Pennsylvania 
and the latter of Germany, who came with 
her parents to America when but eight years 
old, being eight weeks on the ocean. Fred- 
erick and Julia Koch were the parents of 
ten children, — Henry, Mary, Jacob, John, 
Washington, Isaac, Levi, Fred and Aman- 
da, one died in infancy. The paternal 



grandfather, Fred Koch, was a native of 
Pennsylvania, while the great-grandfather 
came from Ireland. 

In 1848 Fred Koch came with his family 
to De Kalb county, Illinois, arriving here 
on the 1 8th of May. He first purchased 
eighty acres just across the line in Ogle 
count}', and kept adding to his original 
tract until he had over eight hundred acres 
of good farm land. To each of his sons, 
as they left the parental home, he gave 
eighty acres of land. Success followed 
him in all his undertakings, and, although 
he came to the state with but five hundred 
dollars, by his industry and economical hab- 
its he became a man of wealth. He is still 
living at the age of eighty-seven years. 

The subject of this sketch was thirteen 
years old when he accompanied his parents 
to Illinois. He grew to manhood on the 
farm and did his full share in its cultiva- 
tion and in the general improvement. His 
education was but limited and confined to 
the common schools. On the ist of Janu- 
ary, 1863, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Julia Rickard, a native of Herkimer 
county, New York, and a daughter of Jacob 
Rickard, who came to Illinois and located 
in Ogle county in a very early day. By 
this union there are four children, George, 
Jeannette, Wallace and Frederick Earl. 

In all his business operations Mr. Koch 
has had the same success that has attended 
his father. On his farm is located the \'il- 
lage of Fairdale, which he had surveyed and 
platted in May, 1875. In politics he is a 
Democrat, with which party he has been iden- 
tified since attaining his majority. Thor- 
oughly enterprising and a practical farmer, 
he endeavors to keep abreast of the times. 
Well known and respected by all, he is one . 
of De Kalb county's best citizens, 



404 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



JOHN HADSALL, junior member of the 
rtrm of Merritt & Hadsall, contractors 
and builders of Genoa, was born in Riley 
township, McHenry county, Illinois, Sep- 
tember 9, 1849. His father, Edwin Had- 
sall, was born in North Moreland, Wyoming 
county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 181 5, and 
died on his farm in Riley township, Mc- 
Henry county, Illinois, May 17, 1887. He 
remained in his native county until the age 
of thirty years, when he came west to Illi- 
nois, driving through from Pennsylvania, 
with his wife and three children. The\' 
left their Pennsylvania home April 26, 1846, 
and reached McHenry county May 26, 
1846. They settled on Coon creek, where 
the father purchased one hundred and 
twenty acres, but added to his possessions 
until he had three hundred and eighty 
acres at the time of his death. In his youth 
he learned the carpenter's trade, at which 
he worked before coming to Illinois. Ed- 
win Hadsall married Elizabeth Daily, a na- 
tive of Wyoming county and a daughter of 
Jonathan Daily, who married a Miss Fitch. 
They became the parents of nine children, 
three of whom were born in Pennsylvania 
and the remainder in Illinois. The chil- 
dren are Mrs. Millie Hewett, who is now 
deceased; Mrs. Myra Flick, of Los Ang- 
eles, California; George, a contractor in 
Chicago; John, onr subject; Charles residing 
near Los Angeles, California; James, in 
business in Rockford; Elmer, living near 
Mason City, Iowa; Rose residing in Maytield 
township, De Kalb county, IlHnois; and 
Mrs. Lena McCafferty, of Rockford, Illinois. 
The paternal grandfather, Amos Had- 
sall was born in what is now W'yoming 
county, but then Luzerne county, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1791, and died in Kansas in 1S68, 
at the residence of his son, Charles. He 



was a carpenter and cabinet maker by 
trade, and was a fifer in the war of 1812, 
being with Scott at Niagara. He kept his 
old fife until his death. The paternal 
great-grandfather, Jonathan Hadsall, with 
a brother James, were all that were left of 
a family of ten children, the father, mother 
and eight children being killed by Indians 
in the Wyoming massacre. All the men 
were working in a cornfield at the time of 
the massacre, but two of the boys escaped. 
They went to Connecticut from where the 
family came and there resided until afier 
the war, then returned to Wyoming county, 
secured their father's farm and both reared 
large families. The Hadsalls were parti- 
sans of Roger Williams and left Massa- 
chusetts with him for Rhode Island, and 
later went to Connecticut and from there to 
Pennsylvania. Amos Hadsall married a 
Miss Parks, and of their five children, Ed- 
win, the father of our subject, was the first. 

The subject of this sketch, after attend- 
ing the district schools in Riley township, 
McHenrj' county, spent fixe years in the 
Sycamore grammar and high schools and 
(jne year at the State University at Cham- 
paign. He began teaching at the age of 
eighteen, before completing his education. 
In all he has taught some twenty-two years. 
For four years prior to going to Champaign 
he was engaged in teaching. He taught 
nine years in I]uck district, Riley township, 
McHenry county; two years in the Java 
district in the same township; eight years 
in his home district; two years in the Pleas- 
ant Hill district, Mayfield township, De 
Kalb county, and one year in the Ney dis- 
trict, De Kalb county. His many years in 
the same nearby districts attest his proli- 
ciency as an educator. 

Mr. Hadsall was married September 9, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



405 



1S74. in Sycamore, to Miss Celesta Ben- 
nett, a native of Lycoming county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and a daughter of John and Lovina 
(Corson) Bennett, who came west in 1868 
and settled in Riley township, McHenry 
county, Illinois, where the father died in 
the spring of 1891. To Mr. and Mrs. Had- 
sall two children have been born, Amory D. 
and Gracie Belle. 

In the spring of 1888 Mr. Hadsall came 
to Genoa and associated himself with Mr. 
Merritt in contracting and building, having 
worked at the carpenter's trade in sum- 
mers before coming to Genoa. Since the 
partnership has been formed the business 
has bepn largely increased and large con- 
tracts taken. Fraternally Mr. Hadsall is a 
member of the Masonic order. Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen 
of America and Knights of the Maccabees. 
In politics he is an independent Democrat, 
and when on the farm was collector five 
years and was a supervisor seven years and 
was a prominent candidate for county 
superintendent of schools in 1898. 



GURDON H. DENNIS is a farmer re- 
siding on section i, De Kalb township, 
De Kalb county, Illinois. He was born in 
Eagle township, Allegany county. New 
York, December 31, 1831, and is the son 
of George W. and Phebe (Partridge) Den- 
nis, the former a native of New York, and 
the latter of Connecticut. The Dennis 
family are of English parentage, while the 
Partridges are of French descent. 

George W. Dennis was by trade a car- 
penter, and a first-class workman. He re- 
moved west with his family of ten children 
in July, 1844, locating in Mayfield township, 



De Kalb county, where he purchased a farm 
of eighty acres on which a primitive log- 
house had been erected, and about twenty 
acres under the plow. This farm he im- 
proved and increased its boundaries by add- 
ing forty acres more, then twenty of timber. 
For some years after coming west he devoted 
the greater portion of his time to his trade, 
but as age advanced he turned his attention 
ex'clusively to agricultural pursuits. He 
was a man of considerable ability, and in 
his younger days taught school. Religiously 
he was a Universalist. He lived to be over 
seventy-si.x years of age. His wife died in 
about 1 86 1, at the age of fifty-six years. 

In the the family of George \\'. and 
Phebe Dennis were ten children, of whom 
our subject was fifth in order of birth. He 
was twelve years old when he arrived with 
his parents in Maytield township, and four- 
teen when he left the parental roof to hew 
out his own destiny. After working out for 
three years, and when but seventeen years 
old, he purchased a farm of eighty acres of 
wild prairie land, which he at once began 
to cultivate, and for which he paid in two 
years. He worked on his farm and for 
other persons alternately, till he reached 
his twentj'-third year, when he wearied of 
living a bachelor's life on the farm. There- 
fore, on the 29th of August, 1855, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Louise Oster- 
hout, a native of Mayfield township, born 
December 7, 1838, and a daughter of Al- 
bert and Polly Osterhout. By this union 
si.\ children were born: Fremont A., May 
6, 1857; Nettie A., January 22, 1859; Mary 
E., April 6, 1 861; Carrie B., December 10, 
1864; Mina L. , September 13, 1866, and 
who died August 3, 1872; Amos H., May 
18, 1869, and who died in September, _ 
1895- 



4o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Immediately after marriage, Mr. Dennis 
located on his farm, where he resided for 
twenty-five years. In 1880, he sold that 
farm, and removed to North Sycamore, 
where he remained two years, then went to 
Poweshiek county, Iowa, where he pur- 
chased a farm of two hundred and fifty-tive 
acres, on which he lived four years. In 
1 886 he exchanged that farm for his pres- 
ent one of one hundred and seventy-four 
acres in section i, De Kalb township. 

The second marriage of Mr. Dennis was 
solomnized March 16, 1880, when he married 
Miss Edith Chatfield, a daughter of Robert 
Chatfield, who was a native of England. 
She came to this country in 1878. By this 
union three children were born: Grace C, 
January 13, 1881; Robert G., April 15, 
1882; and Myrtle T. , November 21, 1892. 
Mrs. Dennis was born in London, England, 
November 10, 1851. Religiously Mr. and 
Mrs. Dennis are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. Both enjoy the respect 
of all their friends and neighbors. 



CHARLES V.WEDDELL, a prosperous 
farmer residing on section 20, Paw Paw 
township, is the owner of seven hundred 
and thirty acres, lying in sections 18, 20 and 
21, all of which is under culti\ation. He 
is a native of Paw Paw township, born on 
the family homestead August 8, 1853, and 
is the son of \V. B. and Agnes G. Weddell, 
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this 
work. He grew to manhood on the old 
home place, which adjoins the farm where 
he now resides. His primary education 
was obtained in the common schools, after 
which he entered the Paw Paw Teachers' 
Institute and Classical Seminary, and later 
attended Jennings Seminary at Aurora, Illi- 



nois, completing his literary education in 
the college at Xaperville, Illinois. He re- 
mained with his father on the farm, assist- 
ing in the work until he attained his 
majority. 

On the 29th of March, 1877, in Paw Paw 
township, Mr. Weddell was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Mary Nisbet, a daughter of 
Matthew and Agnes Nisbet, who were 
among the early settlers of Paw Paw town- 
ship, and who were natives of Scotland and 
New York, respectively. By this union three 
children have been born. Nellie \'. is now 
the wife of Harvey Bullis, a farmer of Paw 
Paw township. Christain L. is a student 
in Wheaton College. One died in infancy. 

Soon after his marriage, Mr. Weddell 
moved to the farm where he now resides, but 
which at that time comprised but eighty 
acres, on which was a smali frame house. 
In this house he resided for two years, while 
making further improvements upon the 
place. He then built a more substantial 
residence, and from time to time added to 
the area of his farm until he has now seven 
hundred and thirty acres, which in reality 
comprises four farms, with four sets of 
buildings. His farms are well drained with 
many miles of tiling. Orchard, forest and 
ornamental trees abound, and he has not 
only one of the best but one ol the neatest 
farms in De Kalb county. In addition to 
general farming, for about si.xteen years he 
has been engaged in breeding and dealing 
in Durham cattle and Norman horses. He 
also buys and feeds about three carloads of 
cattle and three carloads of hogs annually, 
which he ships to Chicago markets. 

The first presidential ballot cast by Mr. 
Weddell was in 1876 for Rutherford B. 
Hayes. From that time to the present he 
has been an uncompromising Republican, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



407 



and while he would never accept office, he 
has assisted others and contributed of his 
time and means for the success of the party. 
He and his wife are members of the Rollo 
Congregational church, in the work of which 
both are greatly interested, Mr. Weddell 
being a member of the official board. For 
four years Mrs. Weddell has been an invalid 
and not able to walk, notwithstanding, she 
is always cheerful and in good spirits. 

In connection with Robert Hampton, 
Mr. Weddell was instrumental m securing 
the present location of the village of Rollo. 
By their united efforts it was secured for its 
present location, after another had been 
already decided upon some two miles fur- 
ther south. It took very prompt and active 
work by Mr. Weddell and others to have 
the change made. But once determined 
upon, he was not the man to give up the 
struggle, but worked earnestly and faithfully 
with satisfactory results to himself and 
associates. A man of excellent business 
and executive ability, his sound judgment, 
unflagging enterprise and capable manage- 
ment have brought to him a well merited 
success. He is a worthy representative of 
that class of citizens who lead quiet, indus- 
trious, honest and useful lives, and who 
constitute the best portion of a community. 
In manner he is pleasant and cordial, which, 
combined with his sterling worth, makes 
him one of the popular citizens of the 
county. 

JAMES MAITLAND is one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of De Kalb county, his 
farm being located in section 35, Sycamore 
township. He was born in Darlington, 
Northumberland county, Canada, February 
28, 1849. His father, James Maitland, Sr., 
was a Highlander, born in Argyleshire, Scot- 



land, July 20, 18 12, and who emigrated to 
Canada in 1835, locating near Darlington. 
He was a carpenter and ship builder by 
trade, and about 1854 moved to Colburn, 
Canada, where he was employed at his 
trade at Cole's wharf some eight years. He 
then returned to Darlington where he en- 
gaged in farming until 1868, when he re- 
moved to Malta, Illinois, where he again, 
worked at his trade. He first married Mary 
Brown, of Darlington, and in 1841 married 
Miss Sarah Renwick, who was the mother 
of our subject. She was born in Dumfries- 
shire, Scotland, April 16, 1822, and who 
came to America in 1835, her parents set- 
tling near Darlington, Canada. She was 
the daughter of Walter and Mary (Guthrie) 
Renwick, also natives of Scotland. Her 
death occurred in Sycamore, Illinois, Sep- 
tember 12, 1894. The paternal grandfa- 
ther, William Maitland, was a native of 
Scotland, where his death occurred in 18 14. 
The subject of this sketch was about 
five years old when the family moved to 
Colburn, and he there attended school until 
about the age of tourteen years, when they 
removed five miles northeast of Colburn, 
where he resided until coming to Illinois in 
1868. He arrived at Malta, November 14^ 
and for one year worked on a farm. He 
was then emplojed on various farms in the 
neighborhood for three years, at the expira- 
tion of which time he went to Sycamore and 
worked with a hay press and at his trade for 
a time, and for three seasons engaged in 
running a threshing machine. He was mar- 
ried in Sycamore, October 14, 1874, to Miss 
Ada L. Stark, a native of De Kalb county, 
and a daughter of Marshall Stark, a sketch 
of whom appears elsewhere in this work. 
By this union two children have been born: 
Howard Henry, who died at the age of four 



4o8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



years and eight months, and Everitt P. 
They have adopted Herbert Harmon Stark, 
one of the sons of Harmon M. Stark, the 
eldest brother of Mrs. Maitland. 

Soon after his marriage Mr. Maitland 
began farming one mile north of Sycamore 
on a farm of his father-in-law, and there re- 
sided one year. Removing to Kingston he 
*here engaged in farming two years, and 
then returned to his father-in-law's farm, 
which he operated eight years. He then 
rented his present farm for two years, hav- 
ing an option for its purchase. He bought 
it in 1892, the farm comprising two hun- 
dred and ten acres, every foot of it tillable 
land. It is well improved and has between 
five and six miles of tiling. In addition to 
general farming Mr. Maitland engages in 
dairying to some extent, nsually keeping 
from eighteen to twenty cows. His barn is 
one of the most substantial in the county, 
being what is known as a truss barn, and is 
thirty-six by sixty-four feet. A well one 
hundred and four feet deep gives an un- 
failing supply of pure water. He has two 
orchards on the place, covering about three 
acres of land, on which he raises apples, 
peaches, plums, pears, cherries and small 
fruit in alnmdance. 

In politics Mr. Maitland is a Republican, 
and has served as road commissioner and 
school director for some years. He is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, of the subordinate lodge, en- 
campment, and canton of Patriarchs Mili- 
tant. He has passed all the chairs in the 
subordinate lodge and encampment, serv- 
ing as noble grand and chief patriarch. He 
has also been grand representative for seven 
years. As a citizen he is enterprising and 
progressive, and his farm shows the work of 
a master hand. 



AUSTIN V. PIERCE, a farmer resid- 
ing on section 13, Kingston township, 
is a native of Du Page county, Illinois, born 
January 12, 1859, and is the son of James 
T. and Sarah L. (Blank) Pierce, both of 
whom were natives of New York state, who 
removed to Du Page county, Illinois, in 
1835. They were pioneers of that county 
and in the course of a few 3ears after his 
coming to the county he was the owner of 
two hundred and fifty acres of land, which 
he purchased of the government and which 
he improved to a high degree. He was 
honored with many of the offices of the 
township, offices which he held with profit, 
not to himself, but to the township. In 
politics he was a Douglas Democrat. While 
coming west with no financial means, when 
life's journey was ended he had plenty 
to leave behind him. He died ia 1895 at 
the age of S3venty-four years; his wife sur- 
vives him at the age of seventy }ears. Their 
family consisted of eight children, all of 
whom are living, our subject being the first 
born. 

Austin V. Pierce was reared and edu- 
cated in Du Page county and has always 
followed the vocation of a farmer. He re- 
sided at home until he reached his twenty- 
seventh year, at which time he rented a 
farm and began life for himself. He con- 
tinued to rent farms for a few years, but in 
1883 came to DeKalb county and purchased 
his present farm, which contains two hun- 
dred acres and is well located on a com- 
manding eminence with good drainage, and, 
under the practical management of Mr. 
Pierce, it is growing more productive and 
becoming more beautiful. 

On the 22d of March, 1S75, Mr. Pierce 
was united in marriage with Miss Delia 
Coon, a native of Steuben county, New 




A. V. PIERCE, 




MRS. A. V. PIERCE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



413 



York, born October 13, 1856, and a daugh- 
ter of William and Jane Coon, both of 
whom are now deceased. Five children 
were born of this union; Clayton in 1877, 
Garfield in 1881, Etha in 1883, Charles in 
1885 and Mabel in 1890. 

Since residing upon his present place 
Mr. Pierce has built a beautiful house with 
all the modern improvements of the day. 
His grounds are neatly kept, indicating the 
refinement and taste of its owner and of the 
family. F"or some years he has given his 
attention almost exclusively to dairy farm- 
ing. For his choice herd of Durham and 
Holstein cattle he has erected a commodi- 
ous barn, which is well ventilated and con- 
veniently constructed. His house and barns 
were erected in 1893 and 1895. Mr. Pierce 
is a practical man of business and keeps 
abreast of the times. He is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of 
America and Knights of the Globe. Polit- 
ically he is a Republican and always takes 
an active interest in the success of his party. 



RALPH N. WILKINSON, the owner of 
a fine farm of two hundred and fifteen 
acres in section 28, Mayfield township, is a 
native of De Kalb county, born on the farm 
where he now resides, August 28, 1858. His 
father, Robert Wilkinson, was a native of 
England, born in Stockton in 1829. John 
Wilkinson, the paternal grandfather, was 
also a native of England and removed to 
Canada about 1831. He resided there a 
number of years and about 1848 came to 
DeKalb county and located in Mayfield town- 
ship, where he purchased a farm of about two 
hundred acres, which comprised a part of 

the place now owned by our subject. 
20 



Robert Wilkinson, the father, assisted in 
developing the old homestead, and later, in 
Mayfield township, married Julia E. Mace, 
a native of England and a daughter of 
William Mace, also a native of that country, 
who came to the United States in 1850, lo- 
cating in South Grove township, De Kalb 
county. After his marriage, Robert Wil- 
kinson located on a farm where his son now 
resides, and at once commenced its im- 
provement. He had a farm of three hun- 
dred and eighty-one acres, and became one 
of the most prosperous farmers in Mayfield 
township. In 1875 he rented the farm, 
made a trip to Europe for his health, re- 
turned and bought a lumber yard in Syca- 
more and carried on the business a few 
months until his death, December 7, 1875. 
His wife survived him a number of years 
and met her death by accident on the 
streets of Sycamore, September 21, 1897, 
at the age of seventy years. 

The subject of this sketch is one of a 
family of two sons and si.x daughters, all of 
whom grew to mature years and all married 
but one. He grew to manhood on the 
farm and was educated in the common 
schools and the Sycamore High School. 
After his father's death he remained on the 
farm one year, then went to Sycamore and 
for two years attended school in that city, 
then returned and took charge of the farm 
work. Later he purchased the interest of 
other heirs in the homestead and became 
sole proprietor of the farm, and has since 
been engaged in general farming, feeding 
and dealing in stock, shipping annually 
some two or three cars from his farm. He 
is also engaged to a limited extent in dairy- 
ing. Since taking possession of the farm, 
he has made many improvements, which 
show the practical character of the man. 



414 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Wilkinson was married at Maple 
Park, Kane county, Illinois, November 13, 
1879, to Miss Hattie Henneghan, a daugh- 
ter of Manley and Elizabeth Henneghan, 
early settlers of De Kalb county, both now 
deceased. Mrs. Wilkinson was reared and 
educated in Sycamore. . By this union their 
is one son, David S., now a student in the 
Aurora Business College. Politically, Mr. 
Wilkinson is a Jeffersonian Democrat, his 
first presidential ballot being cast in 1880 
for General W'inheld S. Hancock. He has 
taken an active part in local politics and 
local campaigns, serving as a delegate to 
various county and congressional conven- 
tions. He was elected justice of the peace 
in 1893 and re-elected in 1897, '^nd has 
transacted the business of that important 
office in a very satisfactory manner. For 
eighteen years he has been a member of 
the school board, having always manifested 
an interest in the public school system and 
in securing good schools for his district. 
Fraternally he is a member of the Knights 
of the Globe, being a charter member of 
the order in Sycamore, and has served 
through all the chairs. A lifelong resident 
of the county and township, he has labored 
earnestly and faithfully not only in the dis- 
charge of his own private affairs, but for 
the public good. 



GEORGE W. WELCH is a farmer re- 
siding on section 27, Malta township, 
and is one of De Kalb county's promising 
young farmers. He was born in Malta 
township on the farm where he now resides, 
in 1873, and is the son of James and Mary 
(Watson) Welch, both natives of Ireland, 
who emigrated to this country in 1854. On 
their arrival in America they came directly 



to De Kalb county, which has since contin- 
ued to be their home. They are people of 
respectability and have by hard labor and 
economy secured for themselves sufficient 
means for their coming old age. |ames 
Welch is the owner of a neat city property 
in De Kalb, where he and his wife reside, 
and in riddition is the owner of a farm upiMi 
which our subject resides and which will 
eventually fall to him. 

George W. Welch grew to manhood 
upon the old homestead and was educated 
in the public schools of Malta, where he 
showed great proficiency in the various 
branches taught therein. Previous and sub- 
sequent to his school days he engaged m 
agricultural pursuits, and has always made 
his home upon the farm where he now re- 
sides. He makes no specialty of any par- 
ticular line of farming, but succeeds in rais- 
ing a general crop in abundance. On Sep- 
tember II, 1895, he married Miss Lyda 
Delbridge, who was born in Malta, De Kalb 
county, Illinois, in 1874, and the daughter 
of Thomas and Ellen Delbridge, both of 
whom are natives of England and are num- 
bered among the substantial people of Malta. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Welch one child has been 
born, Earl D., March 30, 1897. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Welch are members of the Con- 
gregational church, in which they take spe- 
cial interest. Fraternally he is a worthy 
member of the I\nights of Pythias. 



JOHN N. HILL, who resides on section 
25, Paw Paw township, owns and cul- 
tivates a farm of eighty acres of valuable 
and well improved land, three and a half 
miles from the village of Leland. He was 
born in La Salle county, Illinois, April y, 
1857, and is the son of N. J. Hill, a native 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



415 



of Norway, whose sketch may be found in 
this work. With his parents he resided 
until twenty-one years of age, during which 
time he assisted in the cultivation of the 
home farm, and attended the district school. 
When he attained his majority he com- 
menced life for himself by renting the farm 
of eighty acres which he now owns, and 
boarding with his parents while engaged in 
its cultivation. 

On the 7th of February, 1884, Mr. Hill 
was united in marriage with Miss Anna 
Watne, a native of Norway, and a daughter 
of Tobias Watne, also a native of that coun- 
try. By this union seven children have 
been born — Nora, Jessie, Amos, Theodore, 
Albert, Mamy and Esther, all of whom vet 
remain at home, and five of the number at- 
tending the home school. 

Mr. Hill purchased his present farm in 
1886, and has here since continued to reside, 
engaged in general farming. He has been 
fairly successful in all that he has done, and 
feels that he has no reason to complain. 
He is a member of the Lutheran church, of 
which body his wife is also a member. In 
politics he is a Republican, but has never 
cared for office, preferring to devote his 
time and attention to his business interests 
and to his family. He is well known in the 
southwestern part of the county as a man 
whose word is as good as his bond. 



SAMUEL STEPHENS, deceased, was 
one of the pioneers of De Kalb county, 
who lived to see the great changes that 
were made in the development of the coun- 
try. He was born at Harrisburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, September g, 1809, and was the son 
of Benjamin and Elizabeth Stephens. The 
former died in 1S34 and the latter in 1839. 



When our subject was quite young his par- 
ents moved to Ohio, and later still farther 
west to Indiana. His boyhood and youth 
were spent in the three states and, as he 
was always on the frontier, his educational 
advantages were very limited. In 1837 he 
came to where Genoa now stands and took 
up a tract of land and there resided during 
the remainder of his life, dying August 14, 
1 891, at the age of eighty-two years. 

Mr. Stephens was twice married, his 
first union being with Rebecca Patterson, 
who died October 25, 1851, leaving one son, 
Joseph B. Stephens, a prominent attorne}' 
of Sycamore. His second union was with 
Miss Philena Crocker, December 14, 1852, 
and by that union two children were born, 
but both are now deceased. Mrs. Stephens 
was born in Bethany, Genesee county. New 
York, January i, 1830, and is a daughter of 
Rev. Allen Crocker, of whom further men- 
tion is made in the sketch of her brother. 
Rev. A. A. Crocker. At the age of six- 
teen years she came to Illinois and began 
teaching in a barn for lack of a schooihouse. 
She became homesick in this new country 
and returned to New York on a visit, and 
after coming back to Illinois was thoroughly 
contented. On her marriage with Mr. 
Stephens she came to Genoa and has here 
since continued to reside. She is a devoted 
member of the Advent Christian church and 
is well posted in the scriptures. 

Mr. Stephens was an enterprising man, 
liberal and broad-minded, always willing to 
assist others. He made two additions to 
the tov\'n and gave liberally to every public 
enterprise. When the railroad was being 
built through the place he gave of his means 
and assisted in the erection of the depot. 
He built the band stand in the park and_ 
gave the use of the grove for park purposes. 



4i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



On the formation of the party he became a 
Republican and with that party affiliated 
for many years, but later in life was a strong 
and active Prohibitionist. For many years 
he served as justice of the peace and held 
other minor official positions. He was a 
member of Advent Christian church and a 
strong believer in the principles of that 
denomination. 



CHARLES 1JA\IE is a farmer residing 
on section S, Sycamore township. He 
was born in Cornwall, England, June 8, 
1855, and is the son of James and Maria 
(Yoe) Davie, both of whom were nati\es of 
Cornwall, where they yet reside. The 
father is farming a leasehold which contains 
about one hundred and sixty acres, and is 
devoted to stock and grain and dairy prod- 
ucts. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and of the Order of For- 
resters. His wife is the daughter of John 
and Elizabeth Yoe. The paterr.al grand- 
parents were James and Jane Davie, both 
of whom are now deceased. James and 
Maria Davie are the parents of five chil- 
dren, all sons. NN'illiam is a blacksmith, 
residing in New Zealand. Charles is the 
subject of this sketch. John is engaged in 
farming in the town of St. Anstell, Corn- 
wall, England. Arthur and Sidney Her- 
bert yet reside with their parents. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
his native town and attended private schools 
until about the time of his emigration to 
America, in the meantime, however, assist- 
ing his father in the blacksmith shop. 
Early in June, 1882, he left his home in 
company with a friend, who was then on a 
visit to his native land, and sailing from 
Liverpool, he landed at Ouebec, from 



which place he came directly west to Chi- 
cago and from there to De Kalb. For 
thirteen years he worked on the farm of 
Mr. Triscott, in Sycamore township, during 
which time, however, he twice visited his 
native land, spending four months the first 
visit and six months in his last visit. 

Mr. Davie was united in marriage 
October 23, 1895, with Miss Eunice Divine, 
since which time he has resided on his pres- 
ent farm of one hundred and forty-five acres, 
in section 8, Sycamore township, where he 
is engaged in general farming. In politics 
he is a Democrat, with which party he has 
acted since becoming a naturalized citizen. 
He is now serving as school director of his 
district. Fraternally he is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias. 



GEORGE L. TAYLOR is now living a 
retired life at Hinckley, Illinois, en- 
joying the fruits of years of former toil. He 
is a native of Illinois, born in ICane county, 
December 17, 1845, ^^nd is the son of Percy 
Taylor, a native of \'ermont, born in 1801, 
and who grew to manhood in his native 
state, going from thence to New York when 
a young man, where, in St. Lawrence coun- 
ty, he married Miss Rebecca Lawrence. In 
1836 he came west to Illinois and located 
in the township of Big Rock, Kane county, 
where he made claim to one hundred and 
sixty acres, which he cleared and on which 
he lived for forty years. In 1876 he moved 
to Aurora and there spent the last years of 
his life, dying in 1884 at the age of eighty- 
three years. His wife passed away in May, 
1885. Of their family of two sons and five 
daughters, our subject and three daughters 
are the only ones living. Charles grew to 
manhood, marrieil, located on a farm in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



417 



Blackberry township, Kane county, Illinois, 
where his death occurred. Mrs. Sarah Burt 
is a widow residing in Ue Kaib, Illinois. 
Mrs. Harriet Seavey is also a widow and 
now resides in Sugar Grove township, Kane 
county. Mrs. E. C. Whilden resides in 
Big Rock township, Kane county, her hus- 
band being one of the supervisors of that 
county. 

George Taylor, our subject, grew to ma- 
ture years on his father's farm in Big Rock 
township, Kane county, Illinois, and as 
soon as able he was required to do his share 
of farm work. His educational advantages 
were limited to the common school, yet, 
notwithstanding, he is to-day a well in- 
formed man. He remained under the pa- 
rental roof until twenty-three years of age, 
when he was united in marriage in Sugar 
Grove township, Kane county, December 3, 
1868, with Miss Mary Thompson, a native 
of Sugar Grove township, where she was 
reared and educated, and a daughter of 
Edward Thompson, a pioneer of Kane 
county, but a native of New York, who on 
coming west first located in Ottawa, Illi- 
nois, and later moved to Sugar Grove, 
Kane county. 

After his marriage Mr. Taylor located on 
a farm, which he leased for a few years, 
and in 1876 purchased the old home farm 
which he operated for four years, then sold 
and purchased a farm near Waterman, De 
Kaib county, Illinois, in 1880, a place of 
one hundred and twenty acres. To that 
farm he moved and there resided for two 
years. While living there his wife passed 
away, dying May 28, 1881. He soon after- 
ward sold the farm and on the 13th of De- 
cember, 1883, in Kaneville, Illinois, was 
united in marriage to Mrs. Jennie Spencer, 
widow of James Spencer, and a sister of 



his first wife. She is a native of New York, 
who came to Illinois when a child with her 
parents. By her first husband Mrs. Tay- 
lor has three children: Elmer, who is mar- 
ried and engaged in farming in Kaneville 
township, Kane county; Millie, wife of C. 
O. Dean, of Hinckley; and Hattie, young 
lady at home. 

For about one year after their marriage, 
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor resided at Kaneville, 
and in 1885 moved to Hinckley, where he 
purchased a residence lot, built a neat and 
substantial residence, into which they moved 
and where they have since continued to re- 
side. Politically Mr. Taylor is identified with 
the Republican party and gives his earnest 
support to its men and measures. Since mov- 
ing to Hinckley he has served as assessor of 
the township, and also on the village board, 
being two years a trustee, and one year 
president of the board. His entire life has 
been spent in Kane and De Kaib counties, 
and his acquaintance is e.xtensive in both 
counties, and wherever known he has the 
confidence and respect of all. In his life he 
endeavors to live in accordance with the 
golden rule, doing as he would be done by. 



ELEAZER DIVINE, deceased, was born 
in the town of Grahamville, Sullivan 
county, New York, March i, 1820. His fa- 
ther, David Divine, was also born in Sulli- 
van county, January 6, 1800. He married 
Harriet Lowe, who died at the age of ninety- 
seven years. She was a daughter of Cor- 
nelius and Hannah (Hornbeak) Lowe, who 
both lived to a green old age. David Divine 
was engaged in farming and lumbering to a 
great extent in his native county. He died 
about 1866. The paternal grandfather, 
Eleazer Divine, married Lydia Betelbrunt, 



4i8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and for many years was an inn keeper in 
Sullivan county. His death occurred when 
about seventy-five years old. 

Eleazer Divine was reared in his native 
county and attended the district schools un- 
til the age of twenty years. He then bought 
a leasehold of one hundred acres, and after- 
ward bought the feesimple to the land, and 
there engaged in farming for twelve years. 
In June, 1852, he came west and purchased 
three hundred acres at Charter Grove, De 
Kalb county, then returned to his eastern 
home, sold out, and moved with his family 
to De Kalb county in the fall of the same 
year. For the first few years after his ar- 
rival in De Kalb county he raised grain and 
stock, and was quite successful in his farm- 
ing operations. As time passed he purchased 
more land, until he had six hundred acres, 
the greater part of which was under cultiva- 
tion. During the latter years of his life, 
he traded in cattle and other live stock, buy- 
ing and shipping to Chicago and other mark- 
ets. In politics he was a Democrat. When 
he first settled in De Kalb county there was 
some open country, but the greater part was 
partially improved land. 

Mr. Divine married Sallie Ann Sheely, 
who was born in Grahamville, Sullivan 
county. New York, September 26, 1822, 
and a daughter of Elisha Sheely, also a na- 
tive of Sullivan county, who died in the 
early sixties, when eighty-four years old. 
By occupation he was a farmer, and cleared 
much timber land for agricultural purposes. 
He was the son of Conrad and Elizabeth 
(Hornbeak) Sheely, the latter dying in the 
twenties, a very old lady. Conrad Sheel}- 
settled in the wilderness, pealed tan bark 
for the market, and cut and marketed lum- 
ber, but did very little in agriculture. He 
died when about eighty years of age. Elisha 



Sheely married Dorothy Grant, of Scotch 
descent, who died at the age of eighty-two 
years, two weeks after the death of her hus- 
band. 

To Eleazer Divine and wife eight chil- 
dren were born, seven of whom are yet liv- 
ing. Nancy is the wife of Ira Evans, of 
Sycamore township. Mar\- married Richard 
Triscott, who is now deceased. David lives 
in Sycamore township. Frank resides at 
Charter Grove, Illinois. Samuel died in in- 
fancy. Eunice married Charles Davie, a 
sketch of whom appears in this work. 
James and John are twins, living at Charter 
Grove, on the old home place. 



WILLIAM H. MASON, who is oper- 
ating a fine farm of two hundred and 
fifty-five acres in South Grove township, is 
a native of the Prairie state, born in Syca- 
more, February 11, 1859, and is the son of 
Henry B. and Lucy (Orput) Mason, the 
latter a native of Ohio. They were the 
parents of five children, of whom Anna and 
James L. are deceased. The living are 
Ida, Rosa L. and William H. 

In his native city our subject spent his 
boyhood and when ten years old, accompa- 
nied by his parents, he removed to Atchi- 
son, Kansas. From there his father later 
went to Wyoming to prospect and was 
never again heard from. In 1877 he accom- 
panied his mother on her return to Illinois, 
and with her located in Rockford, where he 
soon afterwards commenced work on a farm 
b\' the month, an occupation at which he 
continued for some years. On the 7th of 
October, 1885, he married Mary E. Crist- 
man, a native of South Grove township 
and a daughter of Henry Cristman, an early 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



419 



settler and prominent man of the township. 
By this union two children have been born, 
William C. and Bertha. By a former mar- 
riage Mrs. Mason had two children, L. M. 
and H. Berta. The latter died at the age of 
fourteen years. 

Henry Cristman, the father of Mrs. 
Mason, married Louisa C. Pooler, by whom 
he had three children. Emily M. married 
Amos Willis, of Kingston township. Ida 
married Fred S. Goodrich, of South Grove 
township. Mary E. is the wife of our sub- 
ject. Henry Cristman was born February 
I, 1830, in Herkimer county, New York, 
where he grew to manhood and obtained 
his education in the common school. His 
parents were of German e.xtraction and have 
long since been deceased. He was married 
December 29, 1853, to Louisa Pooler, born 
February 6, 1837, on the German Flats, in 
Herkimer county, and a daughter of Henry 
Pooler, a prominent citizen in that county, 
who later came to De Kalb county, Illinois, 
and located in Cortland township, where he 
purchased three hundred acres of land. 
About one year after his marriage Mr. 
Cristman came to De Kalb county and pur- 
chased one hundred and twenty-eight acres 
of improved land. From time to time he 
added to his possessions, until he had si.\ 
hundred acres, all of which was under culti- 
vation and devoted to general farming and 
stock raising. For some years, however, 
Mr. Cristman engaged in buying and ship- 
ping horses to the eastern markets and had 
a wide reputation as a judge of horses and 
stock generally. His death occurred Jan- 
uary 4, 1883, in the prime of his life and 
usefulness. In politics he was a Republican 
and had held various responsible local posi- 
tions. He was a popular man and his death 
was sincerel}' mourned by a large circle of 



friends. Mrs. Cristman died October 26, 
1896, at the age of fifty-nine years. 

In politics Mr. Mason is a Republican, 
with which party he has been a life-long 
member. Religiously he and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 



EZRA ABEL, who resides on section 29, 
Shabbona township, has been a resi- 
dent of De Kalb county since November, 
1852. He was born in the town of West- 
haven, Rutland county, Vermont, April 13, 
1830, and is the son of Ezra Abel, Sr., who 
was born m Swanton, Vermont, and a 
grandson of Asa Abel, of German parentage, 
and whose parents were pioneers of Ver- 
mont. Ezra Abel, Sr., grew to manhood in 
Vermont, and there married Susan Talmage, 
a native of that state, and later moved 
across Lake Champlain into New York, 
where he engaged in farming until his death, 
when only twenty-si.x years of age. Mrs. 
Abel later married Lyman Sherwood, and 
the family all came to Illinois in 1852. 

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- 
hood and youth in Washington county. New 
York, and in the public schools received a 
fair education. He there learned the car- 
penter's and joiner's trade, at which he 
worked until his removal to Illinois and for 
the first three years after his arrival here. 
In 1853 he entered one hundred and sixt}' 
acres of land with a land warrant, and after 
the erection of a small house on the place, 
his step-father and his mother removed 
there, and he at once began to improve the 
place. He later built a large and substan- 
tial residence and a large barn, and as the 
years went by he set out an orchard, planted- 
shade trees and translormed the place from 



420 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



its wild state intoone of tlie most productive 
farms in the county. 

Mr. Abel has been twice married, first in 
F"ebruary, 1854, to Miss Minerva Brown, a 
native of Ohio, who died in 1868, leaving 
two children. Ettie is now the wife of 
Charles G. Houf^htby, a farmer who owns 
and operates a farm adjoining that of Mr. 
Abel. Harriet E. is the wife of W. M. 
Ellsworth, who is engaged in operating the 
Abel farm. Mr. Abel later married Clara 
Palm, a native of Ohio, who came to De 
Kalb county when but eight or nine }'ears 
of age. They were married in 1871, and 
six years later Mrs. Abel was called to her 
reward, and, dying, left one daughter, Effie 
A. , who yet resides at home. 

The first presidential ballot of our sub- 
ject was cast in 1856 for John C. Fremont, 
and he has never failed to vote the party 
ticket from that time to the present. 
For two terms he ser\ed as collector of his 
township, and has also served as highway 
commissioner. His influence has always 
been used in securing good schools, and for 
twenty years he served as a member of the 
school board. While not a member of any 
church, he is an attendant of the West Shab- 
bona Methodist Episcopal church, and 
gives of his means to its support. Frater- 
nally he is a Master Mason, a member of 
Shabbona Lodge. In the forty-six years 
that he has resided in De Kalb county, he 
has made many friends who esteem him for 
his genuine uorth. 



HIRAM F. BRANCH is one of the lead- 
ing farmers of Kingston township, one 
thoroughly versed in all the branches of his 
vocation. His surroundings testify to the 
fact that he is abreast with the times. His 



well arranged and fertile faim, with its fine 
herd of Jersey cattle, is located on section 
10, Kingston township, about two miles 
north of the village of I-iingston, where his 
birth occurred, July 27, 1843. His parents 
were Charles W. and Esther (Hait) Branch, 
the former a native of Vermont, born in 
1 8 12, and the latter of Delaware county, 
New York, burn in 1S15. Their marriage 
occurred in De Ivalb county in 1838. 

Charles W. Branch was a blacksmith by 
trade and a first-class mechanic in his day. 
He removed from \'ermont to St. I^awrence 
county. New York, where he remained for 
sometime, and in 1835 removed to Kings- 
ton township, De Kalb county, and located 
on the farm now owned and occupied by his 
son, our subject. The same year in which 
he came to the county he repaired to War- 
renville, where he made his tools and then 
returned to his farm, or what was soon to 
be a farm. Erecting a shop he there ham- 
mered away the rest of his life. By hard 
work and close application to business he 
succeeded in building a home, a name and 
an infiuence, which has outlived himself, and 
will outlive other generations. He was not 
only a good mechanic, but a good and faith- 
ful citizen. He was honored by being ap- 
pointed postmaster and serving as such for 
fifteen years. For several terms he served 
as supervisor of his township and was justice 
of the peace under six different governors, 
three of his commissions being from one 
governor. He was faithful in the discharge 
of e\er}' duty and conscientious in all his 
dealmg with his fellow men. A man of 
few words, but many deeds, he was always 
willing to do what he could for the advance- 
ment of his adopted county. He was a 
strict anti-slavery man and a stanch l\epub- 
lican. His farm consisted of one hundred 




HIRAM F. BRANCH. 




MRS HIRAM F. BRANCH. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



425 



and sixty acres, upon which he made many 
improvements. Previous to his death he 
disposed of eighty acres of the original one 
hundred and sixty acres, and bought an- 
other eighty to make his farm more com- 
plete and to his liking. He died Septem- 
ber II, 1S79, at the age of sixty-seven 
years, eight months and two days. His 
wife died November 18, 1854, at the age of 
thirty-nine years, seven months and sixteen 
days. Their family consisted of nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom grew to maturity, five 
yet living. Two of their sons were in the 
army in defense of the Union, William 
Henry and Edwin H. both losing their 
lives in the service, the former dying by 
disease in the hospital, and the latter by the 
bullet of the enemy in the battle of Tupello, 
Mississippi. 

Hiram F. Branch is third in order of 
birth of the children born to his parents. 
He was reared in his native township and 
educated in the district schools. Farming 
has been his life-long vocation, and that he 
has made a good farmer all will testify. When 
he reached his majority he began to work 
his father's farm on the shares, and contin- 
ued to do so for eleven years. After the 
lapse of this time he purchased the old 
homestead and to its area he has added at 
various times until he now owns two hun- 
dred and five acres of first class land. In 
1897 he built a dwelling house of modern 
construction, beautiful and commodious, 
fitted with the improveiients of the da}'. 
His barns and other outbuildings have been 
recently built and are convenient and well 
ventilated. His stock is well collected and 
of the best breed, and at present he is giv- 
ing himself especially to dairy farming. 

On the 6th of May, 1876, Mr. Branch 
was united in marriage with Miss Amy C. 



Witter, daughter of William and Polly Wit- 
ter, and to them four children have been 
born: Charles R., February 7, 1877; Lloyd 
H., January 22, 1879; Louise, December 
5, 1880; and Polly E, , February 25, 1883. 
Mrs. Branch was born in Boone county, 
Illinois, March i6, 1851, and is a highly es- 
teemed lad}', full}' equipped by nature and 
training to gracefully go\ern her beautiful 
home. Politically Mr. Branch is a Repub- 
lican, the principles of which party he has 
advocated since attaining his majority. 
Like his honored father before him, he 
enjoys the good will and esteem of his 
neighbors. He has been honored and 
trusted with the office of supervisor of his 
township for four years, and has held other 
minor local offices. 



W MARSHALL SEBREE.— The state 
of Illinois owes its high standing 
among the sovereign commonwealths that 
make up the United States, to the high 
character and dauntless spirit of the settlers 
who made their homes within her borders 
in the early days. To their inspiration and 
work is due her progress in agriculture, 
manufacturing and the arts. They trans- 
formed the wilderness into fertile farms, es- 
tablished churches and schools in the savage 
wilds, and laid the foundation for the grand 
institutions of philanthrophy and learning, 
which are the glory of the state at the pres- 
ent day. Among these brave and far- 
sighted pioneers, the Sebree family of De 
Kalb county deserves prominent mention. 

W. Marshall Sebree dates his residence 
in De Kalb county from 1834. He was 
born in Floyd county, IndiauR, February 7, 
1833, and is the son of John S. Sebree, a 



426 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



native of Virginia, born in 1808, and the 
grandson of Robert Sebree, a native of Vir- 
ginia of English descent. Robert Sebree 
removed with his family from \"irginia to 
Kentucky, becoming one of the pioneers of 
that state. For two years he and his son, 
John S. Sebree, ran a snag boat on the 
Mississippi river. The latter then went to 
Floyd county, Indiana, where he located, 
and there married Sarah Jane Bateman, a 
native. of Indiana, but of German parent- 
age, her father, William ' Bateman, being a 
native of German)' and one of the pioneer 
settlers of Indiana. 

After his marriage John S. Sebree en- 
gaged in farming in Floyd county, Indiana, 
for two years, then came to De Kalb county, 
Illinois, locating in what is now Squaw 
Grove township, and being one of the very 
first settlers of the countw He took up a 
claim of about four hundred and eighty 
acres, on which he built a log house si.xteen 
by eighteen feet, to which an addition was 
made the following year. On locating here 
there were no white settlers for miles around, 
and Indians were quite common through the 
country. The first winter after his arrival, 
he ran out of supplies, and started with a 
team for Bloomington for provisions to 
carr)' them through the remainder of the 
winter. The roads, if such they might be 
called, were perfectly horrible and the 
weather was fearfully bad. He was gone 
three weeks, during which time his wife was 
left with two small children. Before his re- 
turn, she ran out of all kinds of provisions, 
and had but a small quantity of corn which 
she pounded into meal and grits with an 
iron wedge, in a hole in a stump. The re- 
turn of her husband with supplies was 
hailed with great joy. 

Mr. Sebree erected one of the first build- 



ings in the county, near De Kalb. For 
years his house was made a place of enter- 
tainment by the traveling public. It being 
located on the old state road, he had many 
travelers to entertain him. The land to 
which he made claim he entered as soon as 
it came into market and in due time he had 
a large and valuable farm, the old log house 
giving place to a substantial brick residence. 
A large barn was erected with stone base- 
ment and for many years he was regarded 
as one of the most enterprising farmers in 
De Kalb county. On the old farm he passed 
his last days, dying in April, 1873, his wife 
surviving him a number of years, dying in 
October, 1887. Of their family of two sons 
and three daughters the subject of this 
sketch was first in order of birth. Matilda 
grew to womanhood, married, but is now 
deceased. James Harrison grew to man- 
hood, married and died in 1872. Mary 
Alice also grew to womanhood, married and 
is now deceased. Ellen Augusta is the wife 
of S. V. Howell, a farmer and business man 
of De Kalb county. 

The subject of this sketch was but one 
year old when he came with his parents to 
De Kalb county, and here his entire life has 
since been passed. He was educated in the 
pioneer schools and until after attaining his 
majority assisted his father in the cultivation 
of the home farm. He was married Sep- 
tember 26, 1855, to Miss Rosetta Donald- 
son, a native of Steubenville, Jefferson 
county, Ohio, born May 23, 1837, and the 
daughter of James and Jane (Conei Donald- 
son, the former a native of Ireland and the 
latter of New York city. Her parents lo- 
cated in De Kalb county in 1S46, and in 
less than two years her father died. Later 
her mother moved to Elgin, Illinois, where 
she reared her two childien, giving them a 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



427 



fair education, as there was no school near 
at that time. 

After marriage Mr. Sebree located on a 
part of the old home place, but took charge 
of the farm and business and cared for his 
parents in their declining years. After the 
death of the father he succeeded to the en- 
tire estate and has since very much improved 
the farm, building a large and substantial 
residence, good barns and outbuildings and 
tiling about two miles. Success has crowned 
his efforts in life and in addition to the home 
place he has owned farms in Indiana, Iowa, 
Dakota and Kansas and also owned another 
farm in De Kalb county. 

In addition to his general farming inter- 
ests Mr. Sebree has been quite successful in 
his real-estate ventures. He also met with 
good success in breeding and dealing in Red 
Polled-Angus cattle and was a breeder and 
dealer in this stock for years. He has also 
engaged in raising line horses, sheep, Poland 
China and Yorkshire hogs, and was well 
known throughout Illinois and the northwest 
as a breeder and dealer in tine stock. He 
has lent a helping hand to numerous enter- 
prises calculated to advance the interests of 
his section of the country. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Sebree live children 
have been born, one of whom is deceased. 
The living are Alice, wife of Fernando 
Slater, a farmer of De Kalb county; Nellie, 
wife of W. A. Fay, editor of the De Kalb 
Review; Effie, wife of A. J. Coster, a sub- 
stantial farmer of De Kalb county; and Ray 
M., who owns and operates a part of the 
old farm. Mr. and Mrs. Sebree have also 
four grandchildren — Roy and Elva Slater, 
Earl Fay and Donald Coster. 

Politically • Mr. Sebree is thoroughly in- 
dependent, casting his ballot for the one he 
considers the best man regardless of his 



politics. For some years he served as com- 
missioner of highways, and in his early 
manhood was elected and served as con- 
stable and township collector. He has 
been a friend of education and the public 
schools, and served some si.x or eight years 
as a member of the school board. Years 
ago he joined the Masonic lodge at Hinck- 
ley, but has since been demitted. For six- 
ty-four long years he has been a resident of 
De Kalb county, and is now the oldest liv- 
ing resident of the county. He is one of 
the few living pioneers who have witnessed 
the great changes that have been made in 
making the vast wilderness to blossom as 
the rose, and to make Illinois the most pro- 
ductive state in the Union and third in 
wealth and population. In the great changes 
that have been made he has taken no in- 
considerable part, and is justly entitled to 
all the honors that can be conferred upon 
one who has endured the trials of pioneer 
life. 



FRED. T. ROBINSON, druggist, of 
Genoa, Illinois, was born in Keysville, 
New York, July 19, 1850, and is the son of 
Hiram Robinson, Sr., born in the north- 
eastern part of New York, December 31, 
1 8 19, and who died at the age of sixty-nine 
years. His entire life was spent in north- 
eastern New York, with the exception of five 
years in the early childhood of our subject. 
He married Aurilla Cutler, born in Jay, 
New York, April 22, 1822, and a daughter 
of John Cutler, Jr., who was a son of John 
Cutler, Sr., who married Catherine Priest, 
a daughter of John and Catherine (Wil- 
liams) Priest. They became the parents of 
six children: Hiram, of Plattsburg, New' 
York; Fred T. , our subject; Dr. E. A., of 



428 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Genoa; Anna L ; Dr. John, of Plattsburg, 
New York; and Sarah. 

The paternal grandfather, Hirarn Rob- 
inson, Sr. , settled in northern New York in 
the last century and was engaged in trading 
with the Indians in that state and in Cana- 
da. He married Marie Julia Subray, whose 
brother, Louis Subrav', owned one of the 
largest stores in Montreal at that time. 
She was born in Paris, France, and was a 
well educated woman. The grandfather 
died when his son Hiram was only six years 
of age, and his wife three years later at the 
age of thirty-five years. 

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- 
hood and youth in his native state, and at- 
tended school in or near Keysville until the 
age of fourteen years. He then spent one 
year at Masson College, Terrebonne, near 
Montreal, and in an academy at Plattsburg, 
New York. After leaving school he clerked 
for a time at Saramac and Clayburg, New 
York, and in 1 874 came west to Chicago 
where he again engaged as a clerk in a drug 
store, in the meantime studying pharmacy. 
In 1 88 1 he came to Genoa where he formed 
a partnership with W. P. Van Alstine in the 
drug business, and in the meantime con- 
tinuing his studies in pharmacy, graduating 
from the Chicago College of Pharmacy in 
1885. He then bought his partner's inter- 
est in the store, since which time he has 
continued the business alone. 

Mr. Robinson was first married in Genoa 
in 1879 to Miss Ada Van Alstine, who died 
in 1885, leaving one son, Frank Garfield. 
In 1886 he married Miss Anna McCormack, 
a daughter of Richard McCormack. She 
flied in April, 1894, leaving one daughter, 
Hazel Frances. Fraternally Mr. Robinson 
is a member of Genoa Lodge, A. F. & A. 
M. ; the chapter and commander)', of Syca- 



more; the consistory of Freeport; the Teba- 
la Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Rockford; the 
Eastern Star lodge of Genoa; the subor- 
dinate and Rebecca degree lodge, I. O. O. 
F. , of Genoa, and the Knights of the Macca- 
bees. 

In February, 1864, Mr. Robinson enlist- 
ed in the Sixteenth New York Cavalry, and 
served until 1866, principally in \'irginia. 
He was in the engagements in the Wilder- 
ness, and at Culpeper Courthouse and up- 
wards of fifty skirmishes. He enlisted as a 
bugler, but soon went into the ranks and 
served as orderly. His record was an ex- 
cellent one. 



JOHN SULLIVAN GIBSON, deceased, 
was born in Warsaw, New York, in 
1 8 10. He was of Scotch and English de- 
scent, and in his youth learned the tinsmith's 
trade, an occupation which he followed dur- 
ing his entire life. He was twice married. 
By the first marriage there were six chil- 
dren, all deceased but one son, Arthur Vin- 
cent Gibson, a noted bass singer, and man- 
ager of an opera company in New York. 
Charles Gibson was a member of a band in 
the military service during the Civil war, and 
while yet in the service died of typhoid 
fever. Porter Gibson, also a member of the 
band, went through his term of service, but 
died shortly after the close of the war. His 
second union was in 1869, when he wedded 
Mrs. Harriet Marshall, widow of John Mar- 
shall, who died May 6, 1865, and who was 
a native of Nottinghamshire, England, born 
May 12, 1815, and who came to America in 
June, 1848, sailing from Liverpool and land- 
ing in New York, after a voyage of thirty- 
two days. By the Hudson river, the Erie 
canal and the great lakes he came west to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



429 



Chicago and from there to St. Charles, 
Kane county, Illinois, and later located near 
Charter Grove, in De Kalb county. (For 
the genealogy of the Marshall family, see 
sketch of John Marshall on another page of 
this work.) After the death of Mr. Mar- 
shall his widow purchased residence prop- 
erty in Sycamore, to which she removed, 
and was there residing at the time of her 
marriage with Mr. Gibson. She then re- 
moved with him to Batavia, where she re- 
sided until his death, and then returned to 
her home in Sycamore, where she now lives. 

Mrs. Gibson's maiden name was Harriet 
Ashley. She was born in the village of 
Cottonwood, Shropshire, England, about 
thirty miles east of Liverpool, June 15, 
1826, and a daughter of William Ashley, a 
farmer of Shropshire, who was the son of 
Robert Ashley, of Crew Hall, England. 
William Ashley married Ann Fairclay, who 
died at the age of seventy-seven years. He 
also died at the age of seventy-seven years. 
They came to America early in 1848, ac- 
companied by their family. Their daughter 
Harriet married George Marshall, February 
29, 1848, a few weeks after her arrival in 
America. Mrs. Gibson has two sisters and 
a brother living in England, while another 
sister is living in Aurora, Illinois. She is 
quite a traveler, and spends much of her 
time in that way. She has passed one win- 
ter in California, one in Florida, visited 
much in Canada, and through the south, and 
in 1896 crossed the ocean and visited her 
old home in England. 

John Sullivan Gibson for twenty-iive 
years was with Meredith Brothers, hard- 
ware dealers in Bata\ia, and was with them 
until his death. He was an active man, of 
very strong mind, a fine singer and Christian 
gentleman, and for many years was a leader 



in prayer- meeting. He was also a member 
of the Masonic order and of the Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he 
was an ardent Republican, and was well 
posted on national affairs. His death re- 
sulted from paralysis, in 1882, at the age 
of seventy-two years. 



MYRON E. LAKE is one of the younger 
and enterprising farmers of Paw Paw 
township, residing on section 25, where he 
has a fine farm of one hundred and twenty 
acres of well-improved land. He was born 
on the farm where he now resides, which 
belongs to his father and contains one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, January 15, 1863, and 
is the son of Almon W. Lake, a native of 
Sterling, Cayuga county. New York, born 
October 13, 1829, and who is the son of 
John and Catherine (Van Tasselj Lake, the 
former of English and the latter of German 
parentage. The family moved to Illinois 
in 1840, and settled in Hancock county, 
taking up their residence there on the 
31st of May. In 1845 they came to Paw 
Paw township, where John Lake entered 
eighty acres of land and where our subject 
now resides. Almon Lake worked by the 
month to get a start in life and pay for 
his first land. He was married in Paw 
Paw township, January 5, i860, to Miss 
Mary E. Dennis, a native of Argyle town- 
ship, Washington county. New York, born 
April 16, 1842, and a daughter of John and 
Margaret (McFarlandj Dennis. On the 
farm which he had previously purchased, 
he took his young bride and they there re- 
sided until 1890, when he turned his farm 
over to his son, our subject, removed to 
Sandwich, purchased residence property 



430 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and is now living a retired life. He was 
one of tfie progressive farmers of tfie town- 
ship and placed his farm under a high 
state of cultivation, with good improve- 
ments, including a good substantial resi- 
dence, good barns, various outbuildings, 
fruit and ornamental trees. 

Myron E. Lake grew to manhood on 
the home farm and was educated in the 
home schools. He remained with his 
father until twenty-two years of age, and 
in February, 1885, married Miss Ella M. 
Holmes, a daughter of George R. Holmes, 
then a substantial farmer in Paw Paw town- 
ship, but who is now engaged in the livery 
business at De Kalb. f3y this union there 
are four children: Arthur H., Bessie May, 
Margaret and F"rances. After marriage Mr. 
Lake worked a rented farm for one year, 
then returned to the home farm, where he 
has since continued to reside, and where 
success has crowned his efforts. In addi- 
tion to general farming, he has engaged 
in stock-raising, feeding annually for the 
market about three carloads of stock. He 
has likewise engaged in the dairy business 
to some extent, an occupation which he has 
followed for some years. 

Politically Mr. I^ake has ever been a 
stanch Republican, and an earnest advocate 
of the principles of the party. He was 
elected and served one year as road com- 
missioner, but has never desired public 
office. A believer in the public schools, he 
has used his influence to secure good schools 
and good teachers, and is now a member 
of the school board. Progressive in all 
things, he endeavors to do his work faith- 
fully and well, and in his quiet life he en- 
joys the respect and confidence of the entire 
community, in which he has been a life- 
long resident. 



JAMES HALLETT is a farmer residing 
on section 30, Mayfield township, and 
who came to De Kalb county in 1855. He 
is a native of England, born near Taunton, 
Somersetshire, September 7, 1833, and 
there resided until eighteen years of age, 
assisting in farm work, and at intervals at- 
tending the common schools, where he re- 
ceived a fair education. A young man of 
twenty-two years, he crossed the ocean and 
came direct to De ICalb county, locating in 
South Grove township, where he com- 
menced work on a farm by the month, con- 
tining in that occupation for seven years at 
two hundred dollars per year. His earn- 
ings were saved, and, loaning out the money, 
at the end of seven years, he had seventeen 
hundred dollars. He then returned to his 
native land, and remamed at his old home 
in Somersetshire for two years assisting his 
father in farming and gardening. 

The old country had but little attractions 
to our subject, after a seven years residence 
in the new world, and in the spring of 1865, 
he again crossed the ocean, and made his 
way to South Grove township, De Kalb 
county, and worked on a farm by the month 
for six months. Early in the spring of 
1867, he bought a farm of eighty acres in 
Mayfield township, on which a small house 
had been erected and the place otherwise 
partially improved. Moving to the farm, 
he began its further improvement, and has 
since rebuilt and remodeled the house, 
built a good large barn, set out an orchard, 
and enclosed the farm with a well trimmed 
hedge fence, making it a \'ery neat and at- 
tractive place, and it has always been kept 
under the highest state of cultivation. 

In November, 1868, in De Kalb county, 
Mr. Hallett was united in marriage with 
Miss Mary Jane Hall, a native of Wiscon- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



431 



sin, born near the city of Madison. Her 
father was a native of Vermont, and one of 
the earl}' settlers in Wisconsin, where Mrs. 
Hallett was principally reared. She died 
in October, 1890, leaving five children. 
Eliza is now the wife of Malcolm Doane, of 
South Gro\e township. luiiily Jane is the 
wife of W. E. Crmkshank, a telegraph oper- 
ator on the Illinois Central Railroad at Col- 
vin Park, Illinois. John is a young man re- 
siding at home, and operating the farm. 
Sarah Belle and Olive May also reside at 
home. William Payne died at the age of 
nine years. 

Politically Mr. Hallett is a Republican, 
a party into which he naturally drifted on 
his arrival in this country. After receiving 
his naturalization papers, Mr. Hallett cast 
his first presidential ballot for Rutherford 
B. Hayes. He and his family attend the 
Methodist Episcopal church at South Grove, 
and contribute of their means to its sup- 
port. They are well known in Sycamore 
and in the northern part of De l\alb county, 
and are among the most highly esteemed of 
the citizens of Mayfield township. 



T P. REDMOND, a prosperous and enter- 
k^J prising farmer of De Kalb county, took 
up his residence within its precincts in 1872, 
and owns and operates a valuable and well 
improved farm of two hundred acres in sec- 
tions 25 and 36, Milan township. He is the 
son of Murt and Elizabeth (Harris) Red- 
mond, and was born in 1856, in Penn's 
Park, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Murt 
Redmond was born in Ireland in 1826, and 
when twenty-four years of age came to the 
United States and settled in Penn's Park, 
Pennsylvania, where, in iS55,hewas united 
in marriage with Elizabeth Harris, and gave 



his time and attention to the cultivation of 
a small farm. It was there that all his eight 
children were born, of whom our subject is 
the oldest. Learning of the possibilities of 
Illinois, its fertile fields and splendid oppor- 
tunities, in the spring of 1872 he moved with 
his family to Malta township, De Kalb coun- 
ty, Illinois, and, purchasing one hundred and 
sixty acres of select land, proceeded to culti- 
vate and improve it, and to-day it is an ex- 
cellent piece of farm property. After a life 
full of industry and persevering efforts, which 
have been rewarded b}- successful results, 
he retired from active life in 1885, and lives 
in quiet, free from care and responsibility in 
De Kalb. 

At the time of his father's removal west, 
J. P. Redmond was a\outh of sixteen years 
and when not in school was assisting his fa- 
ther in the many labors that farm life im- 
pose. With an inborn thirst for knowledge, 
he was not content with the limited training 
acquired in the neighboring schools, and for 
several seasons he attended the higher 
graded schools of De Kalb, and supple- 
mented this by a course of study at the Me- 
tropolitan Business College, Chicago. At 
the age of twenty-two years he began teach- 
ing in the district schools and served in this 
capacity for three years, to which were sub- 
sequently added several winter terms. 

Mr. Redmond was united in marriage in 
June, 1887, with Miss Catherine Lyons, 
daughter of John Lyons, a prosperous farmer 
of Afton township, now retired and residing 
in Aurora. By this union there are four 
children, John, Elizabeth, Allen and Ruth. 
In 1895 he moved with his family from 
Malta township, where he had resided on 
the old homestead and cultivated the farm, 
to Milan township and purchased a tract of 
land consisting of two hundred acres, which 



432 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he now cultivates. This farm is well im- 
proved in outbuildings and fences, is thor- 
oughly tiled, with an excellent orchard and 
an abundance of shade trees, is well stocked 
and is among the best pieces of farm prop- 
erty in De Kalb county. 

With a laudable ambition to build for 
himself, Mr. Redmond has coupled indus- 
trious habits with a will and determination 
to overcome all obstacles thrown across the 
path to success. The result is apparent. 
He is still a young man and his start in life 
can not but lead up to greater and more far 
reaching opportunities. He is a man who 
thinks for himself, and this is especially so in 
all political matters, and at the election he 
votes his convictions independent of party. 
He has never sought political office nor 
preferment, his time and attention being 
engrossed in the many duties of his busi- 
ness, and its success was his sole and only 
absorbing desire. 

With Mr. Redmond's attainments in mat- 
ters educational, it is but natural that his 
sympathy and support go out to increase 
and improve the standard of education in 
the public school, and as an ardent sup- 
porter of popular education he is always to 
be relied on. He is a member of the De 
Kalb lodge, Knights of Pythias, and also of 
the Modern Woodmen of America. He is 
courteous and hospitable, and the esteem and 
popularity which are connected with his 
name are but the natural results of sincerity 
of purpose, thorough integrity and a kindly 
disposition. 



JAMES L. LITTLE, residing on section 
4, Kingston township has been engaged 
in farming for the greater part of his life. 
He was born in Aurora, Erie county, New 



York, November 8, 1834, and is the son of 
Henry and Amy (Bingham) Little. Henry 
Little was a native of Washington county. 
New York, born in 1789 and his wife a 
native of Vermont, born in 1804. The 
Littles are of French extraction, while the 
Binghams were originally from England. 
Henry Little and wife moved to the west in 
1845, landing '" Milwaukee, May 10, of that 
year, coming over the Great Lakes to that 
city. They remained one year in Racine 
county, and in 1846 came to De I\alb 
county, locating in Kingston township, 
where they resided for the remainder of 
their lives. They took up a cjuarter section 
of wild land, which by hard work and close 
application to business they soon succeeded 
in subduing. He always followed agri- 
cultural pursuits, and understood farming 
in all its details. They owned considerable 
property, but gave much of it to the chil- 
dren, ownuig at the time of their death 
about eighty acres. Mr. Little passed away 
August 18, 185S, his wife surviving him 
many years, dying September 5, 1891. They 
were both devout members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. Their family consisted 
of nine children as follows: Henry H., 
Amanda, Rachel, Lydia, James L. , Sarah, 
.\nn, Emma and Erastus. 

James L. Little was reared and edu- 
cated in Erie county, New York, and De 
Kalb county, Illinois. He resided under 
the parental roof until reaching his twenty- 
first anniversary, at which timehecommenced 
life for himself. In course of time his uncle, 
Horace Bingham, gave him eighty acres, to 
which he added forty more, which would 
make, deducting for the railroad, one hun- 
dred and fourteen acres of excellent farming 
land, bordering on Boone county. Mr. 
Little is a practical farmer in the full sense 




JAMES L. LITTLE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



435 



of the term, and has been fairly successful 
in his life work. In political faith he is a 
Republican, and religiously a Baptist. 

At the time of his arrival in De Kalb 
county there were yet many Indians, He 
well remembers breaking the virgin prairie 
and of many battles with the rattlesnakes 
which infested the long grass; also talks en- 
tertainingly of all the hardships and pleas- 
ures incident to pioneer life. In the fifty- 
two years of his residence in De Kalb 
county Mr. Little has earned the respect 
and esteem of the people among whom he 
has lived. 



ALFRED L. CLARKE, who resides on 
section 29, Mayfield township, is a life- 
long, resident of the county, being born in 
Mayfield township, July 20, 1855. His 
father. Rev. George Clarke, is a native of 
England, born in Walthamstoe, Essex 
county, February 2, 1823. He there grew 
to manhood, and received a classical educa- 
tion. He married, in Essex county, Louisa 
Lucy Munt, a daughter of Samuel Munt, 
and in 1846 emigrated to the United States 
with his 3'oung bride, and first located in 
Du Page county, Illinois. He was a minis- 
ter of the Methodist Episcopal church, and 
commenced preaching when but sixteen 
years of age. After locating in Da Page 
county he was a circuit rider for two years, 
his salary for that period not exceeding 
eighty dollars. In 1848 he came to De 
Kalb county and entered a tract of one 
hundred and sixty acres in Mayfield town- 
ship and commenced farm life. Success 
crowned his efforts from the beginning, and 
from time to time he added to his posses- 
sions until he was the owner of sixteen hun- 
dred acres of as fine land as can be found in 
21 



De Kalb county. While attending to his 
farming operations, he did not neglect the 
ministry of the Word, but served as a local 
preacher in the neighborhood during his en- 
tire residence there. In 1884 he turned 
over the old place to his son, George E. , 
and moved to Chicago, where he is living 
practically a retired life, although dealing 
to some extent in real estate. For a few 
years after his removal to that city he was 
quite extensively engaged in the real estate 
business, and was fairly successful. His 
wife died on the old homestead in February, 
1895, and her remains were laid to rest in 
the Brush Point cemetery, Mayfield town- 
ship. Of their four children, William E. is 
a substantial farmer of Mayfield township; 
Alfred L. is the subject of this review; 
George E. owns and operates the old home- 
stead; and Louisa L. is the wife of Orlando 
Drake. They also adopted a daughter, 
Alice B., who married William Beaman, 
but is now deceased. 

Alfred L. Clarke grew to manhood on 
the old homestead, and was educated in 
the home schools. He remained with his 
parents until twenty-six years of age and 
materially assisted in the farm work. He 
was married in Sycamore, November 30, 
1 88 1, to Miss Ella A. I\nipp, born in I-iome, 
New York, and who came with her father, 
George Knipp, when a child of eight years, 
to Sycamore, Illinois, where he engaged in 
business. By this union there are three 
children — Ethel Pearl, Amelia Priscilla and 
Marcia Ella. 

After his marriage Mr. Clarke located 
on the farm where he now resides, com- 
mencing on eighty acres, but has since 
added to the area of his farm until it now 
comprises three hundred and thirty acres 
and is one of the neatest and most home- ' 



436 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



like places in De Kalb county. On the farm 
is a neat and substantial residence, which 
has lately been remodeled, large barns, good 
orchard, and the grounds ornamented with 
fine forest trees, flowers and shrubs. The 
house is heated with a furnace and hot and 
cold water is supplied to the various rooms, 
and in fact it has all the modern con- 
veniences of the present day. 

Politically Mr. Clarke is a lifelong Re- 
publican, his first presidential ballot being 
cast for U. S. Grant in 1876. From that 
time to the present the party has always 
had his earnest support, and while he cares 
nothing for official position, he manifests an 
active interest in the success of his party, 
attending its conventions and contributing 
of his means to its success. For a number 
of years he has served on the school board, 
a part of which time he has been its presid- 
ing officer. He and his wife attend the 
Methodist Episcopal church of Sycamore, 
in which faith they were reared. Both are 
well known and their home is the abode of 
hospitality. 



HIRAM GILKERSON is a representative 
of the farming interests of De Kalb 
county, and resides on section 12, Genoa 
township. He was born on the farm where 
he now resides, October 15, 1853. His fa- 
ther, John Gilkerson, was born in Carlyle, 
England, November 16, 18 16, and came to 
America in 1841. He sailed from Liver- 
pool, landed at New York, and for seven 
years remained in Homer, Cortland county, 
working six years for Israel Boies. In 1848 
he came west to Kane county, Illinois, and 
lived on the farm of a brother one year, 
and then purchased the farm where our sub- 
ject now resides, in De Kalb county, adding 



to his first purchase, however, until he was 
the owner of three hundred and sixtj- acres. 
He married Frances Elizabeth Williams, 
born July 8, 1832, in Grafton county, New 
Hampshire, and who came to De Kalb 
county with her parents about 1849. She 
is the daughter of Samuel and Pernel B. 
(Worth) Williams. They became the par- 
ents of three children: Hiram, our subject; 
John, residing with our subject; and Ida 
Mary, wife of W. S. Campbell, of Genoa 
township. The paternal grandparents, John 
and Mary (Twentyman) Gilkerson, also na- 
tives of England, came to America in 1840, 
where their death occurred. John Gilker- 
son died March 28, 1865, and his wife Janu- 
ary 31, 1890. 

Hiram Gilkerson grew to manhood on 
the home farm, and received his primary 
education in the district school, after which 
he attended schools in Marengo and Syca- 
more, and later entered the University of 
Illinois, at Champaign, from which he was 
graduated in 1877. Returning home from 
college, he took his place upon the farm, 
and on the 14th of October, 1877, near 
Waverly, Macoupin county, Illinois, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Portia Moffet, 
a native of Bell county, Texas, and a 
daughter of Dr. Chauncey and .Amelia E. 
(Vancil) Moffet. 

Dr. Moffet was born in the state of New 
York, and when four years of age accom- 
panied his parents to Brussels, Ohio, where 
he grew to manhood. He was the son of 
Hosea Moffet, who was also probably a na- 
tive of New York. He was a graduate of 
the Ohio Medical College, and commenced 
the practice of his profession near Hills- 
boro, Illinois. In 1849 he took up his resi- 
dence in Macoupin county, where he mar- 
ried, and one year later removed to Texas, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



437 



where he was residing at the outbreak of 
the Civil war. Because of his northern 
sympath}', iiis life was in danger, and leav- 
ing Texas he quietly made his way to Ar- 
kansas, where he was pressed into service 
by the guerrillas, and was in the battle of 
Waldron. He escaped from the rebels and 
went into the Union service, and was later 
discharged for disability and returned to 
Macoupin county, Illinois, where lie en- 
gaged in farming. 

Amelia E. Vancil, the wife of Dr. Moffet, 
and the mother of Mrs. Gilkerson, was a 
native of Macoupin county, and a daughter 
of Edmund C. Vancil, a well known capi- 
talist, and one of the earliest settlers of that 
county, born in Kentucky in 1799. With 
his parents he moved to Logan county, Illi- 
nois, in 1817, and in 1822, soon after at- 
taining his majority, went to Union county, 
Illini)is, descending the Ohio river in a flat 
boat to Golconda. He remained there, 
however, but a short time and then went to 
Jackson county, where, after many discour- 
agements, he thought best to make another 
removal and went to Sangamon county, 
Illinois, in the fall of 1827, and shortly aft- 
erwards moved to Macoupin county, where, 
by his energy, thrift and good judgment he 
became one of the wealthiest landowners in 
the county. He was married in Jackson 
county, Illinois, to Mary Byers, a daughter 
of Judge Byers of that county. On leaving 
Sangamon county he settled in Apple Creek 
township, Greene county, but which is now 
Macoupin county, and entered the third 
piece of land taken up in that township. 
There were then only seven or eight families 
in the entire county. In 1828 he moved to 
the farm which was his home for so many 
years. In securing his start he borrowed 
money at twenty-five per cent interest, not 



an uncommon rate in those days. He had 
to go twenty miles to mill, sometimes hav- 
ing to wait two days for his turn. The 
nearest store was at Carrollton, thirty miles 
away. In the famous deep snow of 1830 
he suffered some loss, but was not discour- 
aged. In the spring of 1833 he built a mill, 
and a distillery in 1835. He was a man of 
unusual executive ability and business judg- 
ment. He died December 31, 1891, and 
his wife May 25, 1890. 

After his marriage Mr. Gilkerson began 
fanning for himself, and first purchased five 
hundred and sixty acres of land in Genoa 
township, to which he has since added 
until he has now eight hundred and eighty 
acres. On his farms are four dwellings, 
four large barns, several of which were built 
by himself. The land is drained by about 
fifteen miles of tiling; what was once 
swamp, is now fertile farming land. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Gilkerson four chil- 
dren have been born : Aletha A. , Francis E. , 
Thomas John, and Portia E. ;the first named 
is a graduate of the Marengo high school, in 
the class of 1898, and is now attending the 
University of Illinois, and the second will 
graduate in 1899. In politics Mr. Gilker- 
son is an independent Republican, and, by 
reason of his interest in the public schools, 
he has served as school director for nine 
years. A practical farmer and good busi- 
ness man, he has been uniformly successful. 



THEODORE D. DRISCOLL, a substan- 
tial farmer residing on section 1 1 , South 
Grove township, has the honor of being the 
first white child born in the township, his 
birth occurring April 5, 1838, and on the 
farm where he now resides, and which has 
principally been his home for more than 



438 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sixty years. He is a son of William and 
Margaret (Losier) Driscoll, the former a na- 
tive of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. 
Thev were the parents of eight children, 
only two of whom are living, Elizabeth and 
Theodore D. 

In 1 836 William Driscoll left his native 
state and with his family came to De Kalb 
county and located in South Grove town- 
ship, where he made claim to one hundred 
and forty acres, which he purchased when 
the land later came into market. His was 
the first claim made in the township by a 
permanent settler. At that time settle- 
ments were few and far between, the near- 
est mill being at Ottawa, fifty miles away. 
With ox team they hauled their wheat to 
the mill, and in fact used oxen for all pur- 
poses of travel. Three years after making 
his settlement William Driscoll died, leav- 
ing a widow and eight children to make 
their way alone in the world, and in a new 
country, with but few of the comforts ob- 
tained in the older states. 

The subject of this sketch remained at 
home and assisted in the cultivation of the 
farm, in the meantime attending the primi- 
tive schools of this new country. In those 
schools he obtained a fair education, and is 
to-day a well-informed man and recognized 
as one of the best farmers in De Ivalb coun- 
ty. In 1859, on attaining his majority, he 
came into possession of the old homestead, 
and from time to time he has added to its 
area, until he has now over eight hundred 
acres of well-improved and valuable land, 
together with a large amount of personal 
property. 

Mr. Driscoll was married January 6, 
1875, to Miss Harriet L. Tindall, also a 
native of South Gro\e township, and a 
daughter of Jesse Tindall, who was also one 



of the pioneers of De Kalb county. Mrs. 
Driscoll was born January 21, 1843, and re- 
ceived a good education and for some years 
followed the profession of teacher prior to 
her marriage. Her parents, Jesse and Mary 
(Harberj Tindall, were natives of New Jersej- 
and New York, respectively. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Driscoll four children have been born: 
Jesse, Elizabeth, Harriet and Arthur. 

In politics Mr. Driscoll is a Republican, 
with which party he has been identified 
since casting his first presidential vote for 
Abraham Lincoln in i860. While he is a 
thoroughgoing Republican and gives of his 
time and means to advance the interest of 
his party, he has never himself been an 
office seeker. He has, however, been pre- 
vailed upon to accept some of the township 
offices and is at present township treasurer 
and school director. Religiously he is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
of which body his wife is also a member. 
A lifelong resident of the county he has 
done much to advance its growth and devel- 
opment. When he was born Indians were 
still numerous in the vicinity, but they have 
long since disappeared and the oldest inhab- 
itant can scarcely realize that they were 
ever here. Villages, towns and cities have 
sprung up and nearly every acre of land has 
been placed under cultivation and evidences 
of thrift are everywhere at hand. To such 
men as Theodore Driscoll and his pioneer 
father the credit is due for the wonderful 
changes that have been made. 



JOHN MARSHALL, who is a prosper- 
ous farmer, residing on section 1 1, Syc- 
amore township, was born in North Clifton, 
Nottinghamshire, England, September 21, 
1825, and is the son of William and Mary 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



439 



(Bingham) Marshall, the former born in the 
parish of Dunham, Nottinghamshire, Eng- 
land, in 1789. He was a farm laborer in 
England, and came to America in 1S52, and 
lived with his sons until his death, in 1876. 
He was a member of the Wesleyan Method- 
ist church in which he took great interest. 
He never became a naturalized citizen. His 
sympathies were with prohibition princi- 
ples. His wife was born in the parish of 
Taxilby, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1790. 
She was a daughter of George Bingham, 
also a native of England, who died about 
1830, when probably eighty years old. She 
died in 1 88 1, in Sycamore township, at the 
age of ninety-one years. She was the 
mother of eleven children, five of whom 
are still living: William, residing in St. 
Charles, Illinois; John, our subject; Ann, wife 
of John Lawrence, of Sycamore; Thomas, 
residing in Sycamore township ; and Me- 
lissa, wife of I^dward Lawrence, of Elgin, 
Illinois. 

John Marshall grew to manhood in his 
native country, and attended the subscrip- 
tion schools, when the opportunity was af- 
forded him, until ten years of age. The 
school facilities in England at that time were 
not very good, especially for poor people. 
When grown he purchased many books, 
although at first he could not read very 
well. This was true even after he came to 
America. In his native land he worked as 
a farm laborer at forty cents a day. He 
kept a wife and two children on twelve 
pounds per year, the highest wages he ever 
received before coming to America. He 
was married in North Clifton, England, in 
1848, to Eliza Baker, a daughter of Will- 
iam and Mary (Moody) Baker. Two chil- 
dren were born of this union, before they 
left their native land: Mary, who died at 



the age of twelve years, and William, who 
died in infancy. 

Realizing that England was no place for 
a poor man, Mr. Marshall determined on 
coming to America. With his family he 
sailed from Liverpool in the latter part of 
April, 185 I, in the vessel Trumbull, and after 
a voyage of twenty-nine days landed at 
New York, where he took a boat up the 
Hudson river to Albany, and by canal went 
to Buffalo, and from there by the lakes to 
Chicago. For seven weeks he slept every 
night on the water. He finally reached 
St. Charles, Illinois, June 9, 185 1. After 
working one week in a brickyard he secured 
work as a mason's helper in the erection of a 
large mill. He was a \ery strong man, 
and his employer wagered that he could 
wheel more stone on the building in one day 
than any other man. In England he had 
easily shouldered four bushels of wheat. 

In the fall after his arrival Mr. Marshall 
hired to a merchant to work a small farm 
near St. Charles. He continued in that 
employment for three years, then rented a 
farm on shares for two years. He then 
came to Sycamore township and rented a 
farm on shares for eight years, and in 1865 
purchased his present farm of one hundred 
and thirty acres. For a time he ga\e spe- 
cial attention to dairying, but of late has 
devoted his time more especially to stock 
and grain. All the buildings now upon the 
place were erected by him, including the 
dwelling, barn, granary, cornhouse, hay- 
house and woodhouse. His land is well 
drained with some five or six miles of tiling. 

After their arrival in America, to Mr. and 
Mrs. Marshall five children were born. Jane 
died at the age of three years. Charles 
married Ann Westlake and they have four 
children — John Henry, Lester David, Eliza 



440 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Catherine and Merrill Westlake. They re- 
side in Sycamore township. John died at 
the age of three years. George died when 
two months old. Emma Ann married New- 
ton Darnell, and they have four children — 
George, Arthur, Nellie and Alice. They 
also reside in Sycamore township. The 
mother of these children died April 5, 1878, 
and Mr. Marshall was again married April 
13, 18S0, to Mary E. Slothower, a native 
of Frederick county, Maryland, born De- 
cember I, 1847, and a daughter of John D. 
and Sarah E. (Hartsook) Slothower, the 
latter a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth 
(Lookenbill) Hartsook. John D. Slothower 
was the son of Stephen Slothower, who mar- 
ried a Miss Diehl. 

In politics Mr. Marshall is an uncompro- 
mising Prohibitionist and for some years 
held the office of road commissioner and 
also of school director. He is a member 
of the United Brethren church, in the work 
of which he has taken an active part. 



OLE N. HILL resides on section 29, 
Victor township, where he operates a 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres of 
valuable and well-improved land, the farm 
lying within tw(j and a half miles of the 
village of Leland. He is a native of De 
Kalb county, born November 7, 1866, and 
is the son of N. J. Hill, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this work. In the 
common schools of \'ictor township, he re- 
ceived his education and until he attained 
his majority assisted his father in the culti- 
vation of the home farm. He was married 
February 2, 1887, to Miss Elizabeth Hub- 
bert, a native of Norway, and to them si.\ 
children have been born, one of wiiom died 
in infancy. The living are Mabel M., Ella 



O., Oscar N., Gertie and Elizabeth L. , 
three of whom are attending the common 
schools. 

Immediatel}- after marriage, Mr. Hill 
rented a farm of one hundred acres in La 
Salle county, Illinois, which he worked one 
\'ear, and then moved to an adjoining farm 
of one hundred and twenty acres, which he 
cultivated for one year. Returning to Do 
Kalb county he rented a farm of two hun- 
dred and four acres, which he cnlti\ated 
two years, then moved to the old home- 
stead, where he has since continued to re- 
side. The family are members of the 
Lutheran church, and in politics he has 
always been a stanch Republican. While 
yet in the prime of life, Mr. Hill has shown 
good business abilit}', is a thoroughgoing 
practical farmer, and success will undoubt- 
edl}' crown his efforts. 



AMERICUS H. POND, is a well known 
farmer of Genoa township, but now 
living a retired life. He traces his ancestry 
back to colonial days. The first know'n is 
Samuel Pond of Windsor, Connecticut, 
whose coming to America was in the earliest 
days of the colony. Samuel, the earliest 
ancestor of our subject positively known, 
from a number of corroborating circum- 
stances, is supposed to be the second son of 
the hrst named. He had a son, born in 
1679, whom he also named Samuel. The 
next in line was Phillip, born 1706, whose 
son Daniel, born in 1726, was known as the 
patriarch, because of his large family of 
seventeen children, most of whom lived to 
maturity. He moved with his family to 
Poultney, \'errnont, when that region was a 
\ast wilderness, and there ac(]uired a large 
estate. Pond Hill, near that place, was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



441 



named in his honor. William, son of Dan- 
iel, born 1763, married Ruth ^^'ood. He 
rerved in the Revolutionary war, and died 
in 1838. Harry Pond, son of William, was 
born in Lenox, Berkshire county, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1798. He removed with his 
father's family to Poultney, later moved to 
New York state and from there to Spring- 
boro, Pennsylvania, where his death oc- 
curred. His wife was Lovina Hollembeak, 
a native of Ticonderoga county, New York. 
Their son, Americus H. Pond, is the sub- 
ject of this sketch. 

Americus H. Pond was born in Spring- 
boro, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, Jan- 
uary 20, 1 83 I. After attending the common 
schools he spent one year and a half in the 
Grand River Institute, at Austinburg, Ash- 
tabula county, Ohio. In September, 1851, 
he came west and located in Genoa town- 
ship, De Kalb county, Illinois. He began 
life for himself with nothing but his energy 
as capital. During his first winter in the 
county he taught school for eighteen dollars 
per month in South Grove. 

On the 24th of January, 1852, Mr. Pond 
was united in marriage with Miss Amy N. 
Hollembeak, a daughter of Ruloff W. and 
Electa (Ames) Hollembeak. Ruloff was the 
son of Abraham Hollembeak, whose father 
was one of three brothers who came from 
Holland in colonial days. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Pond eight children have been born. 
Emily married Dillon S. Brown, of the firm 
of Brown & Brown, bankers, Genoa. Leon 
is deceased. Charles C. is engaged in the 
insurance business at Sycamore. Mary 
died in infancy. William L. is the present 
county judge of De Kalb county, and resides 
in the city of De Kalb. Harry is now liv- 
ing at Fayette, Iowa, and is a traveling 
salesman. Elizabeth married Henry S. Bur- 



roughs, who is operating our subject's farm. 
George died in infancy. 

For a number of years after his mar- 
riage Mr. Pond cultivated rented land, it 
seeming almost impossible for him to get a 
substantial start in life. His first purchase 
of land was in 1859, when he secured a tract 
of one hundred and twenty acres, which he 
greatly improved, and on which he resided 
until 1865, when he sold the same and pur- 
chased a part of his present fine farm, to 
which he added until he has now about three 
hundred acres of excellent farm land, which 
is under the highest state of cultivation. 
Politically he is a prohibitionist. 



ANDREW LOVELL, who is practically 
living a retired life on his farm in sec- 
tion 25, Sycamore township, was born in 
the town of Newfield, Tompkins county. 
New York, June 5. 1823. His father, 
James Lovell, was in Binghamton, New 
York, July 15, 1799, and died in Cortland 
township, De Kalb county, Illinois, April 6, 
1878. By occupation he was a farmer, 
which vocation he followed all his life, al- 
though working for a time, in certain sea- 
sons of the year, at the Cooper's trade. 
He married Catherine Linderman, a native 
of Orange county. New York, born Septem- 
ber 12, 1799, and a daughter of Ezekial 
Linderman. She died January 29, 1882. 
The subject of this sketch remained in 
his native state, until in his sixteenth year, 
in the meantime receiving a limited educa- 
tion in the common schools. After reach- 
ing the age mentioned^ he came west to St. 
Charles, Ivane county, Illinois, where he re- 
mained one year and a half, and then ac- 
companied his parents to Ohio Grove, Cort- 
land township, De Kalb county, and there 



443 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



remained with them until the age of twenty- 
one years. He then went to Wisconsin, in 
the lumber regions, and for six or seven 
years was engaged in lumbering in that 
state, and during the summer farmed or 
worked at the cooper's trade in Cortland. 
About 1853, he occupied his present farm, 
where at one time he had three hundred 
acres, but has since sold all but one hundred 
and twenty acres. He established acream- 
cry upon his place for the manufacture of 
butter and cheese, and continued tiiat in 
connection with farming for some years. 
About 1888, he retired from active farm 
work. 

On the 29th of November,- 1849, ^'^ 
Cortland township, Mr. Lovell was united 
in marriage with Miss Sallie Ann Finley, 
born in the town of Burlington, Delaware 
county, Ohio, November 10, 1824, and a 
daughter of David and Mary (Lowrie) Fin- 
ley. The former, a native of X'irginia, born 
February 6, 1798, and died November 26, 
1872. The latter, born July 28, 1796. and 
died March 9, 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Lovell 
four children have been born: Addie, 
wife of William Stamm; Mary, wife of 
Alfred Stowe, a farmer of Cortland town- 
ship; and .Andrew, who married Lottie \'arty, 
and is engaged in farming in Cortland town- 
ship. 

William Stamm was born in Water- 
town, Massachusetts, November 22, 1847, 
and moved from there to Milwaukee with 
his parents in 1848. In 1852 the family 
moved to California, leaving William with 
some friends on a farm, and he there re- 
mained until 1874. He then went to Mil- 
waukee and worked in an agricultural im- 
plement manufactory for some si.\ or seven 
jears, going from there to Batavia, Illinois, 
where he spent four or live years working 



on a farm and in a creamery. From Bata- 
via he went to Montgomery, Illinois, where 
he remained three years, then came to Syc- 
amore townshi]) and lived four and a iialf 
years, going from here to Rochester, Min- 
nesota, for six years, returning to Sycamore 
township in September, 1894, and is now 
engaged in operating the farm and cream- 
ery of Mr. Lovell. He was married Novem- 
ber 12, 1890. In politics he is a Repub- 
lican. 

Andrew Lovell is well known througii- 
out De Kalb county as a man of good busi- 
ness ability, one thoroughly reliable in every 
respect. While he did not enter the service 
himself, two of his brothers assisted in 
maintaining the Union by service in the 
Civil war. In politics he is a thorough Re- 
publican. 



RALPH A. HOUCK is a retired farmer 
and engineer residing in Sandwich, Illi- 
nois, and who has been a resident of the 
state since 1843. He was born in Jefferson 
county. New York, in 1837, and is the son 
of Elijah and Lucy (McCune) Houck, the 
latter being a sister of Harvey McCune, a 
wealthy merchant and very popular man, 
who had a wide acquaintance throughout 
the whole country. Elijah Houck, the 
father, was by occupation a farmer, and a 
man of sterling integrity, with great vigor of 
mind. From Jefferson county. New York, 
in 1838, he removed to Chautauqua county, 
in the same state, and in 1843 came to Illi- 
nois, and located on a farm in Rane county, 
about four miles west of Geneva. That 
season was a very rainy one, and cne long 
to 1)2 reme ubered. He took up about 
three hundred acres on Mill creek, and made 
of it one of the model farms of the county. 




RALPH A. HOUCK. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



445 



Our subject owns one hundred and fifty 
acres of ths same, all of which is finely iin- 
proved with good pasture land and a bluff to 
protect the house L;nd orchard. The farm 
he lents. 

To Elijah and Lucy Houck S2\en chil- 
dren were born. Amanda married Dr. 
Sykes, and died in 1874, at the age of fifty 
years. She was a member of the Presbyte- 
rian church, one who greatly delighted in 
all church and benevolent work. Marvin 
married Parmelia Marks, and died in 1884, 
at the age of seventy-four years. Mary mar- 
ried Mr. Harding and died recently at the 
age of sixty years. She was a friend of the 
poor, and did much to relieve their suffer- 
ings. Araminda, unmarried, died at the 
age of thirty-five years. Alma, also unmar- 
ried, died at the age of thirty years. Sarah 
died unmarried at the age of twenty-seven 
years. Ralph A., the subject of this ske'ch, 
is the youngest of the family. 

The subject of this biography came west 
in 1843, and received his education in the 
common schools, supplemented by instruc- 
tions in a private school, taught by Richard 
Ellis, of Belleville, New York. John Paul- 
ton was another one of his teachers, who 
later became an eminent preacher of the 
f^ospel. His mother died when he was but 
two and a half yeirs of age, but his father 
lived for many years afterwari.,s, and gave 
special attention to his training. He died 
in 1880, at the age of seventy-four years. 
'1 hey were both members of the Presbyte- 
rian church and died in the full assurance of 
faith. 

On coming to Sandwich, Mr. Houck en- 
gaged with the Sandwicli Manufacturing 
Company as an engineer, and continued in 
that position for ten years, giving entire sat- 
isfaction to his employer. Previous to this. 



however, he was the first engineer of the 
Sandwich Flouring Mills, and remained with 
that concern for ten years. He is the 
owner of considerable stock in the Sand- 
wich Manufacturing Company, which is re- 
garded as a good investment. In addition 
to his farm he owns a good house and four 
acres of land within the city limits of Sand- 
wich, and there engages in gardening, giving 
the proceeds to the poor. On Thanks- 
giving day, 1897, he had teams distribute 
over one hundred bushels of potatoes among 
the deserving poor of his adopted city. He 
is a large hearted and generous man, and 
giving much to the Lord's poor. For the 
past twenty-one years he has donated to the 
Bible society from twenty to one hundred 
and fifty dollars per year. From the pro- 
ceeds of these donations Bibles are furnished 
to many who could not afford their pur- 
chase. A worthy and prosperous citizen, 
much praise is accorded him for generous 
and timely gifts to widows and orphans and 
the poor generally. He is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, ; nd was con- 
verted at a very early age. 



EDWARD BYRO is among the younger 
of De Kalb county's farmers whose in- 
dustry and good management have resulted 
in his ownership of an excellent farm of one 
hundred and si.xty acres thoroughly tiled 
and fenced, a neat and substantial residence 
and various outbuildings. His farm and 
residence is located on section 10, Milan 
township. He is a native of Stavanger, 
Norway, and was born April 20, i860. It 
was there he was reared and educated and 
assisted his father in cultivating the home 
farm, until he arrived at the age of twentj- 
one years, when in 1881 he set out for Amer- 



446 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ica and after landing in New York came di- 
rect to Kendall county, Illinois, where for 
three years he was employed at farm work 
for several farmers. In 1884 he moved to 
Grundy county, Illinois, and for two years 
he worked by the month on the Hoge farm. 
Later he rented a part of the Hoge farm, 
and began its culti\ation on his own account. 
He remained there until 1 8y i , at which time 
his accumulated earnings, the result of hard 
work, strict economy and e.Ncellent manage- 
ment, which pro\ ided the means to purchase 
a farm for himself, and he accordingly moved 
to De Kalb county and purchased the farm 
on which he now resides. 

Mr. Byro's father, Ole Byro, was a na- 
tive of Stavanger, Norway, where he was 
reared and educated. He was a successful 
farmer and a man universally respected in 
the community. His wife was a Miss Ellen 
Serene Nesxem, daughter of Ole Nesxem, a 
farmer and native of Norway, who resided 
near the Byro family in the neighborhood 
of Stavanger. Edward Byro is the young- 
est of their family of three children, the 
others being Ellen and Ole. The eldest child, 
Ellen, married in Stavanger, Gunter John- 
son, a shoemaker by trade, and at her death 
was the mother of two daughters. Ole is a 
prosperous farmer residing in Shabbona 
township, De Kalb county, Illinois. 

Edward Byro married Miss Emily John- 
son, daughter of Thomas and Bertha (At- 
letved) Johnson, a farmer residing near Sta- 
vanger, Norway. Her parents came to 
America in 1866, and settled in La Salle 
county, Illinois, where her father was em- 
ployed, working on various farms by the 
month. Later he moved to Nebraska, but 
subsequently returned to Illinois locating in 
Lee county. They now reside on their own 
farm in Webster count}-, Iowa. Mrs. Byro 



is one of a family of eight children, and was 
born in La Salle county, Illinois, April 21, 
1868. Her education was received in the 
various schools in the localities in which at 
different times her parents resided. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Byro four children have l)een born 
— Ollie, Burt Elias, Severt Thurnian and 
Alfred, all of whom are attending school. 

Mr. Byro is an ardent Republican and 
cast his first presidential vote for Benjamin 
Harrison, and at all elections supports with- 
out qualification the nominees of his party. 
The entire family are members of the 
Lutheran church, and attend services at 
the chapel, located in the west part of the 
township. He deserves much credit for the 
progress that he has made and which after 
all is the reward of diligent and persevering 
effort. Starting in life in a strange country 
and unable to speak the language, he had 
much to contend with and many obstacles 
to overcome. He had determination and 
was always industrious, and these qual- 
ities with his excellent habits has enabled 
him to make material progress in acquir- 
ing valuable farm lands, and above all, in 
enjoying and possessing the esteem and 
well wishes and confidence of the general 
public. 



EZEKIEL NOBLE, an old and highly 
respected citizen of Afton township, 
resides upon a farm which he purchased 
nearly half a century ago. He is a native 
of Rutland county, Vermont, born May 31, 
1S18, and is the son of Ezekiel and Hannah 
(Gates) Noble, who were also natives of 
Rutland county, and who were the parents 
of seven children, our subject being the 
only one of the number now living. The 
paternal grandfather, Captam David Noble, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



447 



was a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 
and served as a captain in the Revolution- 
ary war. The family are descended from 
John Noble, who came from England to 
America in a very early da\', locating in 
Massachusetts. The father of our subject 
followed the vocation of a farmer in Ver- 
mont, and died at the age of sixty-two 
years, honored and respected by all men. 

Ezekial Noble, our subject, grew to 
manhood in his native county and state, 
and after passing through the common 
schools, attended a school at Castleton, 
Vermont, three years, and later read medi- 
cine for two years, but never engaged in 
practice. In 1840 he went to New York 
where he engaged in teaching for one year 
in the district schools. In 1S42 he located 
at Owego, New York, where he engaged in 
the manufacture of woodenware with a fair 
degree of success. In 1S54 he came to De 
Kalb count}', Illinois, and purchased the 
farm where he now resides, and has since 
given his attention to agricultural pursuits. 

On the /th of December, 1842, Mr. 
Noble was united in marriage with Miss 
Nancy A. Tyler, and to them were born 
eleven children, si.x of whom were deceased. 
The living are William M., Arthur G.. 
Charles P., Horner E. and Mertie M. 
Mrs. Noble died November 3, 1874, at the 
age of fifty years. She was a devout mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, one 
whose hope was steadfast and who died in 
the hope of a resurrection and a life be\ond 
the gra\'e. Mr. Noble was again married, 
his second union being with Miss Mary E. 
Ingersoll, a native of New York. Their 
marriage was solemnized August 20, 1876. 

Political]}' Mr. Noble is a Republican 
and has been an earnest advocate of the 
principles of the party since its organiza- 



tion. He has been a leader in his party in 
Afton township and has often served as a 
delegate in its various conventions. For 
thirteen years he served as supervisor of 
Afton township, making a valuable mem- 
ber and serving on the most important com- 
mittees. For more than thirty years he 
has served as justice of the peace and still 
holds the office, the duties of which he has 
discharged in a most satisfactory manner. 
He is now serving as township school trus- 
tee, a position he has held for three years. 
Religiously he is associated with the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, of which body his 
wife is also a member, and they are both 
devoted to the Master's work. Mrs. Noble 
has held the office of secretary and treas- 
urer of the County Sunda\'-school Associ- 
ation, and also is superintendent of the 
Afton Union Sunday school, and is the 
president of the W. C. T. U., and is very 
zealous in the work of the society. 



CG. WILLRETT is a prosperous 
farmer, whose farm lies on section r, 
Milan, and section 36, Malta township. He 
is a native of Germany, born August 6, 
1866, and is the son of P"rederick and Car- 
rie \\'illrett, both natives of the same coun- 
try, where their entire lives were spent. 
Their family consisted of six children, of 
whom our subject is fourth in order of birth. 
In his native land he remained until se\en- 
teen years of age, and there received his 
education in the public and parochial 
schools, and from the time he was able to 
assist, did his full share in the work of 
farming. In February, 1883, he came to 
the United States, and soon after his arrixal 
went to Malta township, where he worked 
on a rented farm for one year. Continuing 



44^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



farm work, he toiled year by year, laying 
by a certain sum yearly, and, being indus- 
trious and enterprising, success crowned his 
efforts, and he was enabled to purchase the 
farm of Peter Benson in the fall of 1893, 
and which comprised two hundred acres of 
well improved land. 

On the J 5th of June, iSy2, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Gomel, 
also a native of Germany, born March 20, 
1865, and the daughter of John and Fred- 
ericka (Centner) Gomel. They have now 
three children, John, Elmer and Lizzie. 

Mr. Willrett has followed farming dur- 
ing his entire life, and understands it in all 
its branches. In the old country he was 
trained to be methodical in his work, and 
since coining to this country he has endeav- 
ored to make use of the training received in 
early life. His farm is pleasantly situated, 
and every acre of it is thoroughly cultivated 
or used for stock purposes. He is loyal to 
his adopted country, and has already held 
some township offices, including road com- 
missioner from 1 89O to 1897. 



HENRY O. WHITMORE, now living re- 
tired in the city of Sycamore, but who 
tor many years was engaged in agricultural 
pursuits in Mayheld township, was born in 
the town of Pomfret, Windsor county, Ver- 
mont, October iS, 1843, His father, Enos 
Whitmore, was born in W'eathersfieKf, Wind- 
sor county, Vermont, November 27, 1805, 
and there grew to iiKmlKxjd and acquired a 
common-school education. He was mar- 
ried April 7, 1836, to Miss Celiiia Reed, also 
a native of Windsor county, N'ermont, born 
November 23, 1815. While in X'ermont he 
was for several years proprietor of a woolen 
factory. In 1841 they moved from Weath- 



ersfield to Pomfret, \'ermont, and there re- 
mained until 1847, when they came to De 
Kalb county, Illinois, the father purchasing 
one hundred and si.xty acres of unimproved 
land on section 35, Mayfield township, where 
he built a good frame house and at once 
commenced the improvement of the farm. 
He there died May i, 1877. His wife died 
August 16, 1 86 1. Previous to his death, 
however, in 1867, he married Livonia Skeels, 
who died December i, 1876. To Enos and 
Celina Whitmore five children were born — 
Louisa, Howard, Harrison, Henry O. and 
Lavina. Mrs. W'hitmore was a daughter of 
Daniel Reed, who was probably a native of 
Vermont and who died there about 1850 at 
the age of sixty-five years. In politics Enos 
Whitmore was first a Whig, then an Aboli- 
tionist and later a Republican. While in 
the east he was a mem.ber of the Methodist 
church. During his life time he assisted 
his children in securing farms and property. 
The subject of this sketch was but four 
3'ears of age when he accompanied his par- 
ents to De Kalb county. He attended a 
select school taught by Miss Hapgood and 
also one by Dr. and Mrs. Woodward. At 
the age of eighteen years he began teaching, 
but in the following spring, February 26, 
1862, in Sycamore he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Esther V. Andrews, born in 
Glen Falls, W'arren county. New York, 
October 28, 1844, and a daughter of Luman 
Andrews, also a native of the same county, 
born February 18, 1809, and who died Sep- 
tember 10, 1864. By trade he was a car- 
jfentt-r and machinist and followed the trade 
of a millwright until his removal to De Kalb 
countw about 1848. His first wife died be- 
fore his remo\al and he was again married. 
He followed his trade in De Kalb citw and 
while in Indiana placing machinery in a 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



449 



mill his death occurred. The paternal 
grandfather of Mrs. Whitniore was Allen 
Andrews, who was so named in honor of 
Ethan Allen, with whom his father, Chris- 
topher Allen, fought in the Revolutionary 
war. Christopher Andrews was born in 
1749 and died in 181 3. His wife was born 
1753 and died in 1837. He was a licensed 
e.xhorter of the Methodist lipiscopal church 
and traveled all through the Adirondack 
regions with his gun, hunting and exhorting. 
When old enough his son Allen accom.pari- 
ied him and also became an e.xhorter. 
Christopher Andrews enlisted with Ethan 
Allen in 1775, when twenty-six years old. 
He married Eleanor Brown, of Saratoga 
county. New York. Lumaii Andrews mar- 
ried Sophronia Collins, also a native of 
Warren county, New York, and a daughter 
of Joseph and Esther (Euller) Collins, the 
latter from near Fort Edward, New York, 
the family being early settlers of Warren 
county. Joseph Collins died when about 
eighty-five years old and Esther Collins 
when ninety-three years old. Luman and 
Sophronia Andrews were the parents of ten 
children, only four of whom lived past in- 
fancy. There are only two now li\-ing, Mrs. 
Almira Button, of New York, and Mrs. 
Whitmore. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore two chil- 
dren have been born, ^^'allace W., born 
in Mayfield township, February 11, 1863, 
grew to manhood on the old home farm, 
and after attending the district schools, en- 
tered the high school at Sycamore, and 
later took a course in a business college in 
Chicago. He married Jessie E. Almy. He 
was justice of the peace for several years. 
In 1890 he became deputy county clerk, and 
has since lived in Sycamore. Cora C. grew 
to womanhood, and after attending the 



Sycamore schools, entered Cumnock's 
School of Oratory, in Chicago, and after a 
two years' course for several years gave pub:- 
lie readings. She was married in Novem- 
ber, 1S90, to Professor Clyde W. Votaw, a 
teacher of Greek and Biblical research in 
Northwestern University. They have one 
child, Claire. Just prior to her marriage, 
Mrs. 'Votaw taught elocution and reading in 
the Princeton High School. 

Mr. Whitmore has been a farmer during 
his entire life. For eight weeks he was a 
traveling salesman for the Ellwoods, but 
the comforts of home were to him much 
greater than the pleasures of the road, and 
he therefore resigned. In politics he is a 
Republican and for several j'ears was super- 
visor in Mayfield township, and has served 
in other minor offices. Fraternally he is a 
, member of the Knights of Pythias, and re- 
ligiously he and Mrs. Whitmore are mem- 
bers of the Uni\'ersalist church. 



\\T H. THOMAS, who is engaged in the 
V V grain, coal and live stock business at 
Clare Station, Mayfield township, first came 
to De Kalb county in 1883. He is a nati\e 
of Iowa, born in Dallas county, October 24, 
1858, and is the son of William Thomas, 
born in Vernon, Indiana, about 1837. The 
family are of Welsh descent, Andrew 
Thomas, the grandfather of our subject, lo- 
cating in Jennings county, Indiana, at a very 
early day. In 1854 William Thomas lo- 
cated in Dallas county, Iowa, and there 
married Elizabeth Rhoades, a native of 
Ohio, but reared in Dallas county, Iowa, 
and a daughter of Daniel Rhoades, one of 
the early settlers of Dallas county. After his 
marriage lie purchased a farm in Dallas coun- 
ty, remained there for some years, reared" 



45° 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his family, and later sold out and mo\ed to 
southwestern Kansas, where his death oc- 
curred in August, 1.S87. His wife survives 
liiin and now resides with a son in De Kalb 
county. Of their five sons and four daugh- 
ters who grew to mature years, all the sons 
and three of the daughters are yet living. 
In order of birth they are as follows: W. 
H., of this review; I->. F., residing in Genoa, 
Illinois; D. M., a farmer of De Kalb coun- 
ty; L. T. , also a farmer of De Kalb county; 
Cecil, wife of Thomas Baker, of Genoa; 
Celia, wife of Robert McPherson, of Clare; 
Fannie, wife of Charles Graham, of Syca- 
more; and Charles, of Sycamore. Effie 
grew to womanhood and married Arthur 
Brown, of Cienoa, but is now deceased. 
After the father's death, the mother and 
children all came to De Kalb county, and 
all are now residing here. 

In his native county, our subject grew 
to manhood, and in his boyhood and youth 
attended the common schools and assisted 
his father in the cultivation of the home 
farm. He also learned the mason's trade 
in his youth, at which he worked in connec- 
tion with farming, after arriving at mature 
years. He made his home with his parents 



until 188- 



/hen he came to De Kalb 



county, and commenced work on a farm by 
the month. On the 19th of February, 1884, 
he was united in marriage, in De Kalb 
county, with Miss Ida H. Peterson, a native 
of Stockholm, Sweden, who came to this 
country when seventeen years of age. Her 
parents, who were also natives of Sweden, 
both died in their native land. 

In 1885, Mr. Thomas rented a farm, 
which he operated for a time, and later 
purchased eighty acres north of Sycamore, 
which he continued to cultivate until 1893, 
when he sold and purchased a farm of two 



hundred and forty-five acres on section 21, 
Mayfield township, to which he removed 
and began the further improvement of the 
place. In the past five years he has made 
some very substantial improvements in the 
place, tiling much of the land, fencing, and 
the erection of granaries, etc. On coming 
to the county he was possessed of but little 
means, but by his industry and thrifty habits 
is now in comfortable circumstances. For 
several years, in connection with general 
farming, he has engaged in Ijuying, feeding 
and shipping stock. In the spring of 1898, 
he added grain and coal to his line of busi- 
ness, and is meeting with good success in 
every department of his work. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have two chil- 
dren, Irvin H. and Esther E. Politically he 
is a Republican, with which party he has 
been identified since attaining his majority. 
He takes an active interest in political 
affairs, attending the conventions of his 
party, and doing all he can to advance its 
interests. In him the public school has a 
friend, and for nine years he served as a 
member of the school board, being presi- 
dent one term, and clerk two terms. He 
also served as township assessor one term. 
While residing in De Kalb county but fifteen 
years, his active business life has brought 
him in contact with man}' persons, and he 
is universail}' respected wherever known. 



JOHN R. CORSON, who resides on sec- 
lJ tion 9. Genoa township, is a native of 
Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, born in 
Hughsville October 13, 1825. He is the 
son of Peter Corson, Jr., a native of I^ycom- 
ing county, Pennsylvania, born in 1797, 
and Margaret (McCarthy) Corson, born near 
Muncie Creek, in the same county, and a 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



451 



daughter of Isaac and Martha (Figgles) 
McCarthy, who were of the Quaker faith. 
Peter Corson, Jr., was by trade a black- 
smith and followed that vocation during his 
entire life. He was the father of fourteen 
children, of whom our subject was second 
in order of birth. His death occurred in 
1847 in his native county. The paternal 
grandfather, Peter Corson, Sr. , was by trade 
a shoemaker. He married a Miss Dudder. 

John R. Corson grew to manhood in his 
native county, where he received his educa- 
tion in the district schools, attending during 
the winter months. Before the age of thir- 
teen he had learned the blacksmith's trade 
in his father's shop, beginning so young that 
he had to stand on a step to blow the bel- 
lows. At the age of thirteen he was an ex- 
pert horseshoer and, during the busy sea- 
son, has made thirty-two horseshoes and 
two hundred nails in a night. He worked 
all day and had little sleep or rest. For a 
number of years the family moved from 
place to place and he accompanied them. 
At the age of twenty-one he left home and 
went to Culpeper county, Virginia, where 
he remained three months and then opened 
a shop at Tivola, Pennsylvania, where he 
remained six years. In the fall of 1855 he 
came to Illinois, and after spending a few 
months in Kane county, in the spring of 
1856 he came to De Kalb county and 
bought his present farm, at which time one 
could not have cut a riding whip on the en- 
tire place, it all being covered with waving 
prairie grass. 

On the 15th of February, 1849, '" Mun- 
cie, Pennsylvania, Mr. Corson was united in 
marriage with Miss Sarah M. Craft, a native 
of Muncie, born January 8, 1831, and a 
daughter of Samuel Craft, a native of the 
same county, who married Margaret Hart- 



man, a daughter of John and Margaret 
(Spring) Hartman, from near Reading, 
Berks county, Pennsylvania. Samuel Craft 
was the son of William Craft, a native of 
Connecticut, who married Sarah Alward. 
They became the parents of thirteen chil- 
dren, of whom four sons and three daugh- 
ters are now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Cor- 
son six children have been born, the first 
dying in infancy unnamed. (2) Clara M. 
grew to womanhood and May 15, 1890, 
married David Piper, born near Rutland, 
Vermont, November 18, 1833. (3) Caro- 
line C. married Robert M. Williams and 
now lives in Bedford. Iowa, and they have 
six children, Jennie E., Bertha M., Harry 
E., Earl, Sadie and Winifred. (4) Mari- 
etta married Albert Williams, now residing 
in Bedford, Iowa, and they have had five 
children, four of whom are living, Gracia L., 
Roy D., Dell and Carrie L. Sarah E. is de- 
ceased. (5) Charles is engaged in farming 
in McHenry county, Illinois. He married 
Caddie Patterson and they have had three 
children, two living, Maggie May and Guyla 
P. Myrtie B. is deceased. (6) Milton J. 
married Emma J. Patterson and they reside 
on the home farm. They have four chil- 
dren, Zada B., John D., George S. and 
Maynard D. 

From raw prairie land, Mr. Corson de- 
veloped a fine farm with groves and orchards, 
barns and outbuildings, and all of a substan- 
tial character. He built a shop on his 
place, and worked at his trade in connection 
with farming, until 1886, when he aban- 
doned his trade, but still continued farming 
until 1890, since which time his son has 
carried on the farm, the shop being closed 
except for occasional repair work. Politic- 
ally he is independent, but was formerly a 
Democrat. For many years he served as ' 



452 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



school director, and was offered other town- 
ship offices, but would never accept. For 
nineteen years a post office was retained at 
his residence, Mrs. Corson acting as post- 
mistress. Religiously both are members of 
the Ney Methodist Episcopal church. 



HON. WESTEL W. SEDGWICK, pres- 
ident of the Sedgwick Bank, of Sand- 
wich, Illinois, was born in Oneida county. 
New York, June 7, 1827, and is the son of 
Dr. Samuel and Kuhama P. (Knight) Sedg- 
wick, both of whom \vere natives of New 
York. Samuel Sedgwick was a physician 
and surgeon, and attended the medical 
school of Fairfield College, Fairfield, New 
York, which was presided over by Professor 
Willoughby, after whom our subject is 
named. Dr. Samuel Sedgwick had two 
brothers who were also practicing physicians. 
Dr. Elijah Sedgwick came west, locating in 
r^lgin, Kane county, Illinois, where he en- 
gaged in practice for a short time, and then 
went into other business. Dr. Parker Sedg- 
wick located at Bloomingdale, Du Page 
county, Illinois, where he built up a large 
practice, and was recognized among the best 
practitioners of his day and this part of the 
state. 

Dr. Samuel Sedgwick, the father of our 
subject, commenced the practice of his pro- 
fession at Black Creek, New York, from 
which place in 1837 he removed to Hart- 
ford, Licking county, Ohio, where he lived 
and engaged in practice for three years, 
then moved to East Union, Coshocton 
county, the same state, and was there four 
years in practice, during which time lie 
served as postmaster of the village for two 
years under President Tyler. He then 
moved to Little Rock, Kendall count}', IIH- 



nois, where he continued to reside until his 
death about i84i,at the age of forly-five 
years. He was a member of the Congrega- 
tional church and was much interested in 
religious work. His wife survived him 
many years, dying in Sandwich when eighty- 
three years old. In early life she united 
with the Congregational church, and was a 
devout member of that body for many 
years, but later in life, with her daughter, 
united with the Baptist church at Sandwich, 
in which faith she passed to her reward. 
When Dr. Samuel Sedgwick located at Lit- 
tle Rock, it was the most important town 
west of Aurora for some years. His prac- 
tice extended a radius of twenty-five miles 
around Little Rock. In his family were 
seven children, of whom our subject was 
the eldest. The others were Elizabeth, 
widow of Oliver S. Hendee, of Sandwich; 
Sarah A., wife of William Brewer, residing 
in the west; Louisa J., who married James 
H. La}', but is now deceased; Maria, who 
died in Sandwich, a single lady; James H., 
a prominent attorney of Peoria, Illinois; and 
one who died in infancy. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
the various towns where his father resided. 
In his youth he read medicine under the 
instruction of his father, and later with 
his uncle Parker, at Bloomingdale, Illinois. 
Entering Rush Medical College, at Chi- 
cago, he pursued the course and was grad- 
uated from that institution in the class of 
1848. Before graduating, however, he en- 
gaged in practice with his father, and was 
with him one year before the latter's death. 
That year was known as the sickl}' season, 
with fever and ague, typhoid and other 
fevers being quite prevalent. The father 
and son had all they could possibly do. 
The winter following the father took dnwn 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



455 



with typhoid fever, from which he never 
recovered. Our subject continued and re- 
tained both his own and his father's prac- 
tice. He continued to follow his profes- 
sion until 1857, at Little Rock, and then 
moved to Sandwich, where he practied for 
a short time, then read law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar about 1S62. For several 
years he engaged in active practice of that 
profession and yet gives attention to office 
practice, but does not engage in the trial of 
causes owing to ill health. 

In 1884 Mr. Sedgwick began the bank- 
ing business, purchasing the private bank of 
Culver Brothers. While the bank is a 
private institution, with no stated capital, 
our subject has seventy-five thousand dol- 
lars invested in the business. At present 
he is the president of the concern, with S. 
P. Sedgwick, as cashier, and C. F. Sedg- 
wick, assistant cashier. The bank has the 
confidence of the people of Sandwich, and 
does a safe and reliable business with a good 
line of deposits. 

On the 7th of June, 1848, his twenty- 
first birthday. Dr. Sedgwick was united in 
marriage with Miss Sarah A. Toombs, 
daughter of William Toombs, a resident of 
Little Rock, where he was engaged in the 
hotel business for a number of years. He 
was from Michigan and located in Little 
Rock about 1846. By this union nine chil- 
dren were born, of whom three died in 
early childhood. The others are: Agnes, 
at home; Caroline Gertrude, wife of Web- 
ster M. Dyas, and they have one child, 
Clair, who with his mother resides in De- 
troit, Michigan; S. P., cashier of the Sedg- 
wick Bank, who married Bessie Robertson, 
by whom he has three children — Ray H., 
Westel W. and Marjorie; Harvey, who died 

at the age of fifteen years; Charles F., 
22 



assistant cashier of the Sedgwick Bank, 
who married Anna Patterson, by whom he 
has one child — Marie; and Jennie May, 
wife of Eugene Hill, residing in Chicago. 
The mother, who was a consistent member 
of the Sandwich Presbyterian church, died 
in 1895, at the age of sixty-seven years. 
The Doctor was again married February 
22, 1898, to Miss Vina Scudder, whose par- 
ents died before her recollection. 

Dr. Sedgwick is a member of the 
Presbyterian church, being an elder in the 
church at Sandwich. In politics he has 
usually voted the Republican ticket, but is 
inclined to vote independently. In 1862 
he was elected a member of the legislature 
and served one term. In 1869 he was 
elected a member of the constitutional con- 
vention, which formed the present constitu- 
tion, which was adopted in 1870. When 
Sandwich was incorporated as a city he was 
elect d its first mayor and served several 
terms. He is recognized as one of the 
sound and reliable business men of De Kalb 
county, and his many admirable qualities 
have tended to make him a favorite with 
all classes. As a public man he has won 
an enviable reputation, and as a private 
citizen he is greatly esteemed, having the 
confidence of the entire community. 



DENNIS McGIRR, who resides upon a 
fine farm of one hundred and si.xty 
acres of well improved land on section 26, 
and owns one hundred and sixty acres on 
section 25, Afton township, and which com- 
prises a part of the old McGirr hom.estead, 
is a native of that township, born March 2, 
1 85 5, and is the son of John and Mary 
(Powers) McGirr, of whom further mention 
is made in the sketch of John McGirr, found 



456 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



elsewhere in this worlc. In his native town- 
ship he grew to manhood, and was edu- 
cated in the district schools. From the 
time old enough to use the hoe and handle 
the plow, he has done his full share of farm 
work. He is now recognized as one of the 
most enterprising and practical farmers of 
the township. He was married November 
26, 1 891, to Miss Sarah Gallagher, a native 
of Pierce township, and a daughter of 
Thomas and Sarah Gallagher, natives of 
Ireland. Four children have been born of 
this union, two of whom died in infancy. 
The living are Mary and Emmet F. 

Religiously Mr. McGirr and his wife are 
members of the Roman Catholic church, 
and believe strongly in its teachings and are 
devoted to the work set before them. Fra- 
ternally he is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, and in politics he is 
a Democrat. For four years he has served 
acceptably as assessor of the township, doing 
his best in the assessment of all property, 
both real and personal, to render exact 
justice to all alike. 



RICHARD F. JONES, residing on sec- 
tion 18, Mayfield township, is one of 
the most enterprising farmers of De Kalb 
county, of which he has been a resident 
since June, 1880. He is a native of Ire- 
land, born in county Wicklow, some forty- 
eight years ago. In his native county he 
grew to manhood, and received a good 
common school education. His boyhood 
and youth were spent on the farm, and he 
grew up a practical farmer, which is evi- 
denced by the success attending him later in 
life. His native land did not give him the 
opportunities that he desired for advance- 
ment in life, and he therefore determined 



to come to the United States. In 1880, he 
took ship at Liverpool for New York, and 
came direct by way of Chicago to Syca- 
more, and commenced work on the farm by 
the month in Mayfield township, a farm ad- 
joining the one where he now resides. The 
next year he rented a farm of two hundred 
acres, which he operated one year, and 
then purchased a farm of one hundred and 
sixty-four acres, on which he located, and 
there resided for several years. After 
making some permanent improvements on 
the place, he sold it at a nice advance. He 
then rented the farm where he now resides, 
comprising three hundred and twenty-six 
acres. He also rented other lands, and is 
one of the largest farmers in Mayfield town- 
ship. 

In addition to general farming, Mr. 
Jones engages in breeding and feeding stock 
for the general market. He commenced in a 
small way, and increased the stock from 
year to year, and now feeds about two hun- 
dred head of hogs and' about one hundred 
head of cattle. He is also engaged in the 
dairy business, milking from forty to fifty 
cows, being one of the largest milk pro- 
ducers in the township. In the spring of 
1898 he sold twenty-three head of yearlings 
that averaged eleven hundred and eighteen 
pounds, a record hard to beat in the state. 
While residing on his own farm, he was en- 
gaged in breeding and dealing in Poland- 
China hogs, and was known as a breeder of 
pure-blooded stock, which he shipped over 
the state and as far west as Oregon. He 
has also raised some pure-grade Norman 
horses. 

In 1880, just prior to leaving his native 
land, Mr. Jones was united in marriage 
with Miss Catherine Traynor, a native of 
Ireland, and their wedding journey was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



457 



their trip across the water to their Illinois 
home. This wife died in De Kalb county 
in 1885, leaving three daughters, Flora, 
Katie and Maude, all students of the home 
school. In 1887, Mr. Jones returned to 
Ireland, and after spending a few months 
in visiting friends, was united in marrige 
with Miss Eliza Piggott, also a native of 
Ireland, and with his bride returned to his 
western home. By this union there are six 
children, Lillie, Alice, William, Eva, Fred- 
die and Hazel. 

Politically Mr. Jones is a Republican, 
and secured his naturalization papers in 
time to cast his first presidential vote for 
General Harrison in 1888. He has never 
held office, nor has he ever desired official 
honors. He and his wife were reared in 
the Episcopal faith, and are members of 
the Episcopal church. While residing in 
the new world but a comparatively short 
time, Mr. Jones has been very active and is 
well known in Sycamore, and the northern 
hall of De Kalb county, and has always 
maintained the respect and good will of 
those with whom he has been brought in 
contact. 



GEORGE W. NESBITT, M. D.,was for 
years one of the most popular physi- 
cians and surgeons residing in S3'camore, or 
in the entire county. He was a native of 
New York, born in Attica, August 20, 1837, 
and was a son of Henry and Eleanor (Smyth) 
Nesbitt. The former a native of county 
Cavan, Ulster, Ireland, born in 1803, and 
the latter of Washington county, New York, 
born in the town of Argyle, in 1802. 
Her father was of Scottish birth, while 
her mother was a native of Connecticut, 
and was probably of German origin. After 



his marriage, Henry Nesbitt settled in At- 
tica, where he engaged in farming, and 
there died in June, 1883. His wife died in 
Wyoming county. New York, in 1862. 
They were the parents of eight children, of 
whom our subject was fourth in order of 
birth. 

The boyhood and youth of our subject 
was spent upon the farm, and his primary 
education was obtained in neighboring 
schools. He later entered the Genesee 
and Wyoming Seminary, at Alexandria, 
Genesee county. New York, from which in- 
stitution he was graduated with honors. He 
then came west, and at Genoa, Illinois, 
spent one winter engaged in teaching. In 
the following spring, he traveled quite ex- 
tensively, and during the summer was with 
a government surveying party on the Red 
River of the North, operating principally in 
Minnesota. In the winter following he 
taught school in Boone county, Illinois, aft- 
er which he went to Arkansas, and other 
states, and pursued the same vocation. It 
was at first his design to engage in the legal 
profession, and to that end he commenced 
reading law in the office and under the in- 
struction of Hon. Charles Kellum, of Syc- 
amore, but in i860, he commenced the 
study of medicine, in the office of Dr. H. 
H. Rice, of Randolph county, Illinois, 
where he remained nearly a year, and then 
returned to Alexandria, New York, and 
continued his studies under the supervision 
of Dr. H. B. Miller. Later he attended 
lectures at the Buffalo Medical College, 
from which he was graduated February 21, 
1865. He then entered into business with 
Dr. G. W. McCray, of Buffalo, New York, 
in the wholesale and retail drug trade, and at 
the same time engaged in the practice of 
his profession. 



458 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In the fall of 1866 he sold his interest in 
the drug business and began a prospecting 
tour with a view of securing a permanent 
location. By lake and canal he went to 
Pittsburg, thence by river to St. Louis, and 
then through various states of the South, 
remaining a few days or weeks at a place. 
Returning to St. Louis, he traveled on horse- 
back through Illinois, finally reaching Syca- 
more, where he wisely concluded to remain. 
He at once opened an office, and soon es- 
tablished a reputation as a physician and 
surgeon second to none in northern Illinois. 
Shortly after locating in Sycamore, he was 
in front of Waterman's store when a box of 
soldiers' clothes was opened. The war hav- 
ing closed a large quantity of army clothing 
was thrown upon the market, and one case 
had been purchased by Sycamore dealers. 
In a spirit of fun Dr. Nesbitt mounted the 
box, and being a fluent speaker, delivered a 
patriotic address, and then began to auction 
off one suit of the clothes. He was sur- 
prisingly successful, and soon sold the entire 
shipment, the unexpected result of a joke. 
He was then engaged by the Arm to sell 
elsewhere, and was in partnership with them 
in this branch of business for about six 
months, as long as the supply lasted. He 
did a thriving business, and declared that 
he made money faster than at any period of 
his life'. 

In addition to his medical practice, Dr. 
Nesbitt engaged in the breeding of tine 
stock, and at one time had a fine string of 
thoroughbreds, but foreseeing a falling off in 
demand and price of stock, sold a portion 
and traded the balance for twelve hundred 
acres of land in Kansas. He named his 
ranch Bally Haise, in honor of his father's 
birth place in Ireland. 

On the 23rd of June, 1864, at Buffalo, 



New York, Dr. Nesbitt was united in mar- 
riage with Mirs Mary H. Davis, a native of 
Chippewa, Canada, and by this union three 
children were born, one of whom died in in- 
fancy. The living are George W., Jr., and 
John B. The former was born March 13, 
1869, in Sycamore, and grew to manhood 
in his native city, attending its public 
schools and graduating from the high school. 
Reading medicine under the instruction of 
his father, lie later attended the Chicago 
Medical College, from which he graduated 
April 22, 1892. He immediately began 
practice with his father, and succeeded to 
the practice after his father's death. He 
was married August 16, 1894, to Miss Cora 
Whittemore, a native of Sycamore, and a 
daughter of Captain H. C. Whittemore, 
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. 
The Doctor is a member of the Masonic or- 
der, and in politics is thoroughly independ- 
ent. He is now examiner for the Equitable, 
New York Mutual and New York Life Insur- 
ance Companies. As a physician he stands 
high in the estimation of the people, and re- 
tains the practice of his lamented father. 
John B. Nesbitt was born in Sycamore, 
January 31, 1873, and after receiving his 
education in the Sycamore schools, attended 
the Chicago Medical College, from which 
he was graduated in June, 1897. After his 
graduation he formed a partnership with his 
brother, and the two have now an extensive 
practice. In politics he is also independent. 
Dr. Nesbitt was well read in medical lit- 
erature, and as a lecturer and contributor 
to the medical press, had an excellent repu- 
tation. He was a member of the Illinois 
State Medical Society, and also of the 
American Medical Association, in both of 
which he took an active part, contributing 
to them man}' valuable papers. For two 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



459 



years he served as vice-president of the 
State Medical Society. Fraternally he was 
a Mason, and in the work of the order took 
an especial interest. His death occurred at 
his late home in Sycamore, April 29, 1894. 
Thus passed away a well beloved physician, 
whose many years of faithful toil in his pro- 
fession made his name a household word 
throughout De Kalb county and northern 
Illinois. His influence and efforts were not 
confined to professional lines only, for in 
all the varied activities of our common life 
he took a helpful part, as a loyal citizen, 
devoting his abilities to the cause of prog- 
ress. At the time of his death he was 
mayor of Sycamore. Dr. Xesbitt was a 
man whose death was felt as a loss among 
all classes as well as to his devoted wife 
and sons. 



CHARLES P. BENSON, of South Grove 
township, is a prosperous farmer and 
the owner of three hundred acres of arable 
land, which he keeps under a high state of 
cultivation. He is a native of Ogle county, 
Illinois, born October 12, 1859, and is the 
son of Robert P. and Mary (Wesley) Ben- 
son, the former a native of Cumberland 
county, England, at d the latter of Hanover, 
Germany. The}' were the parents of three 
children, Charles P., John W. and Lena M. 
In 1826, Robert Benson left his native 
land, crossed the ocean, and for thirteen 
years made his home in Canada, coming 
from that country to De Kalb county, Illi- 
nois, and locating in Sycamore. He later 
engaged in railroad building as a contractor 
on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. 
Subsequently he purchased three hundred 
and twenty acres of government land in 
Ogle county, Illinois, and at once com- 



menced its improvement. He was an in- 
dustrious man and a practical farmer, and 
was fairly successful in life. He became 
quite prominent in his township, and served 
in various local offices. On the Ogle county 
farm he spent the remainder of his life, 
dying in 1881, at the age of seventy-two 
years. 

On the farm in Ogle county, cur subject 
grew to manhood, and after obtaining his 
primary education in the district schools, 
spent some eighteen months in Wheaton 
College, thus giving him a good practical 
education. Reared to farm life, he has con- 
tinued that occupation up to the present 
time. On the 15th of September, 1881, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. 
Crozier, a native of New York state, and 
by this union three children have been born, 
Earl W., Robert I. and Orva M. 

In politics Mr. Benson is independent, 
voting for the man he thinks best qualified 
to fill the office. He has not sought office 
for himself and cares for none. He was 
however elected road commissioner in 1893, 
for a term of three years, and re-elected in 
i8g6. Fraternally he is a Mason, and also 
a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and of the Knights of the Globe. 
As a farmer he is regarded as one of tiie 
best in South Grove township, and as a 
citizen he is highly esteemed. 



ALVA F. POST, who for a period of 
nearly forty years has been one of the 
active enterprising farmers of De Kalb coun- 
ty, but who, since 1887, has been living a 
retired life in the village of Shabbona, is 
numbered among the settlers of 1851. He 
was born in St. Lawrence county. New 
York, April 20, 1826. His father, John 



460 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Post, was a native of Vermont, who, when 
a young man, moved to New York, and lo- 
cated in St. Lawrence county, where he 
married Jerusha Fuller, a daughter of Jacob 
Fuller. He lived but a few years after mar- 
riage, dying in 1828. His widow, the 
mother of our subject, some years later 
married David Hamilton, who subsequently 
removed to Illinois, becoming a pioneer 
settler of De Kalb county. 

The subject of this sketch was thrown 
upon his own resources at an early age. He 
went to work on a farm for a very small 
compensation, working during the summer 
months and attending the common schools 
during the winter months. He saved his 
earnings and was thus enabled to attend a 
seminary, where, by diligent study, he se- 
cured a fair education and taught his first 
school when but eighteen years of age. He 
then worked on the farm during the spring 
and summer months, attended the seminary 
in the fall and engaged in teachmg during 
the winter months. Believing he could bet- 
ter himself he came west, landing in Chi- 
cago, April 10, 1.S51, but did not remain in 
the city, going from there to Sugar Grove 
township, Kane county, Illinois, where he 
worked on a farm the summer following. In 
the fall of that year he came to De Kalb 
county and secured the school at Pritchard's 
Grove, which he taught during the winter 
of 185 1-2. In the spring of 1852 he com- 
menced teaching at Shabbona Grove, con- 
tinuing until the spring of 1853, or for a 
term of fourteen months; he then engaged 
in carpentering work, and followed that 
trade for several years during the summer 
months, teaching in the winter. He taught 
twenty-two terms of school, and was con- 
sidered one of the best teachers in De Kalb 
county. 



In the fall of 1859 Mr. Post rented a 
farm in Lee county, and engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits, and there spent some si.\ 
years. In 1865 he purchased his first piece 
of land, a place of ninety acres, on which 
was a small house and barn, and a few acres 
placed under the plow. I^ocating on that 
farm he began its further impro\ement, and 
from time to time purchased more land, and 
now owns a good farm of two hundred and 
fifty-four acres, lying about three miles from 
the village of Shabbona. After living 
thereon for twenty-two years he removed 
to the village. The farm is under the very 
best improvements, with two miles of neat 
and well-trimmed hedge fence and eighteen 
hundred rods of tiling. Commencing life 
in limited circumstances, he has succeeded 
reasonably well, and in addition to his farm 
has a good dwelling house and a number of 
lots in the village of Shabbona, together 
with considerable personal property. 

Mr. Post was united in marriage in Kane 
county, Illinois, April' 26, 1854, to Miss 
Marietta Hoselton, a native of New York, 
born in Jefferson county, and daughter of 
Hanford and Dorcas (Perry) Hoselton, also 
natives of New York. She was reared and 
educated in Cleveland, Ohio, and previous 
to her marriage was engaged in teaching in 
Kane county. There are five children by 
this union. Ida is now the wife of A. J. 
Chandler, of Plymouth county, Iowa. 
Emery married and engaged in farming in 
Plymouth county, Iowa. Elma D. is the 
wife of B. L. Greenfield, a substantial farm- 
er of Shabbona township, now operating 
the Post homestead. Mabel is the wife of 
William Kennedy, also a substantial farmer 
of Shabbona township. Eddie died in early 
childhood. 

Mr. Post cast his first presidential vote, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



461 



in 1848, for General Zachary Taylor, and 
was identified with the Whig jmrty until its 
dissolution, since which time he has been 
an earnest and enthusiastic Republican. 
An old teacher, it may naturally be sur- 
mised that he is a friend of education. 
While residing in Lee county he served as 
township trustee and has been a member 
of the school board for many years. On 
his arrival in De Kalb county he found 
much of the county in its native state and 
has chased wolves over the prairies. He 
has witnessed cities and villages spring up, 
and in the development of the country 
has done his full share. He and his wife 
are members of the Shabbona Congrega- 
tional church, in the work of which they 
take special interest. 



LORENZO ROBINSON, a farmer resid- 
ing on section 4, Genoa township, was 
born iftar Barrington, Cook county, Illinois, 
March 9, 1853, and was reared in his native 
township, attending the district schools 
until si.Kteen years of age. He continued 
working for his parents until twenty-two 
years of age, when he came to Genoa town- 
ship and worked for a time on the farm 
where he now resides. He was married 
July 8, 1878, to Mrs. Priscilla Corson, 
widow of Daniel B. Corson. After his mar- 
riage he continued to operate the farm until 
1886, when he moved to Hand county. 
South Dakota, where he resided until 1890 
and then returned to the farm in Genoa 
township, where he has since continued to 
'reside. He is a son of Coleman Robinson, 
born in New York in 1829, and who died in 
1889 in the village of Hampshire, Kane 
county, Illinois. His wife was Elizabeth 
McGilvery, who died in 1875 at the age of 



forty years. They were the parents of 
eight children, si.x of whom are yet living. 
In politics Mr. Robinson is a Republican 
and has served as road commissioner and 
school director. Religiously he is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Mrs. Priscilla Robinson was born in Frank- 
lin township, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- 
vania, March 5, 1836, and was one of a 
family of thirteen children born to Samuel 
and Margaret (Hartman) Craft, from Berks 
county, Pennsylvania, the latter a daughter 
of John and Margaret (Spring) Hartman. 
Samuel Craft was born about 1808 and died 
in Pennsylvania when about seventy-eight 
years old. By trade he was a miller. The 
family originally came from Connecticut, 
but located in Pennsylvania at an early day. 
The paternal grandfather, William Craft, 
married Sarah Alward. By trade he was a 
miller. During the Revolutionary war the 
Indians planned a raid upon the settlement 
at Wyoming, which was later carried out, 
resulting in the Wyoming massacre. By a 
friendly Indian, who came to him at his 
mill, William Craft was warned of the in- 
tended raid and so escaped with his family 
to the fort. 

Priscilla Craft was first married in Che- 
nango township, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- 
vania. April 20, 1854, to Daniel B. Corson, 
born March 15, 1830, and who died January 
22, 1876. He was the son of John and 
Elizabeth (Buck) Corson, the latter being a 
daughter of Peter Buck. John Corson was 
a son of Peter Corson, Sr. By trade Dan- 
iel B. Corson was a blacksmith, learning 
the same from his brother-in-law, Joseph 
Green. For a time he worked with his 
cousin, John R. Corson, but on coming to 
Illinois he engaged e.xclusively in agricult- 
ural pursuits. 



462 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



By her first marriage Mrs. Robinson be- 
came the mother of eight children, (i) 
Arloa married Scott Waite, of Pingree 
Grove, Kane county, Illinois, and they have 
two children, Nellie and Frank. The for- 
mer is now the wife of Harry Pierce, of 
Des Moines, Iowa. (2) Norman Edgar and 
(3) Estella were buried in one grave, the 
former dying when three years of age and 
the latter when four months old. (4) Liz- 
zie died at the age of four years. (5) Cor- 
win C. lives in Bedford, Iowa. He married 
Coral Walker. (6) George married Myra 
Shook, and with their two children, Mabel 
E. and Beulah C, they reside in McHenry 
county. (7) Joseph L. married Emma 
Reid, and they have one son, Vernon J. 
Their home is in McHenry county. (8) 
Nellie I. died at the age of three years. By 
her second union Mrs. Robinson had one 
daughter, Mary J., who died at the age of 
three years. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Rob- 
inson are members of the Ney Methodist 
Episcopal church. 



J 



OHN BETZ, an active business man of 
Somonauk, engaged in the lumber trade, 
and also in the sale of agricultural imple- 
ments, wagons, carriages, etc., was born in 
Erdbach, Nassau, Germany, February 23, 
1831, and is the son of Jost Henry and .Anna 
Margaritta (Winkel) Betz, both of whom 
were natives of Germany, who there lived 
and died, the former in 1845, at tiie age of 
liftv-two years, and the latter in 1S54, also 
aged fifty-two years. By trade the father 
was a blacksmith and also followed farming. 
He was a member of the EvangeHcal church, 
of which body his wife was also a meniber. 
They were very gooil people, and inherited 
many excellent traits of character from their 



ancestors. They were noted for their piety 
and integrity, and had a host of friends. Of 
their family of seven children, our subject 
was third in order of birth. The others 
were Carl Henr\', who never came to Amer- 
ica, but who died in Bicken, Germany, his 
death resulting from an accident by his fall- 
ing from a fruit tree; Wilhelmina, who 
married Henry Nas, but is now deceased; 
Christina, who died at the age of eighteen 
years; Margaret, who came with our subject 
to America, married William Heun, and 
now resides in Iowa; John Henry, living in 
the old countr\', with a family of si.\ chil- 
dren, of whom one, Adolph, came to the 
United States in 1889, and now makes his 
home with our subject, and assists in his 
business; and August, who died with con- 
sumption, when about twenty years old. 

John Betz, our subject, was educated in 
the common schools of his native land, and 
is now a well informed man, having been a 
student during his entire life. He«never 
learned any trade, as- is common with his 
fellow countrymen, but worked on the farm 
in his youth. His father dying when he was 
but sixteen years of age, he managed the 
farm until his mother's death, when the 
home place was sold. In the spring of 
1854, he emigrated to America, embarking 
in a sailing vessel at Antwerp, and being 
forty-two da} s on the water. He had fairl}' 
good sailing, and a pretty good time on the 
way, arriving in New York City, August 16, 
1854. For five weeks he remained in the 
vicinity of New York, partly with relatives, 
and then came west to Chicago, landing 
there with ten shillings in his pockets, and • 
all America before him. Securing employ- 
ment in a blind, door and sash factory, he 
worked there about si.x weeks, when he 
slipped from a board, and lit with his right 




JOHN BETZ. 




MRS. JOHN BETZ. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



467 



foot in boiling water, scalding the foot and 
ankle in a painful way, and which laid him 
up for ten weeks. When well enough he 
came to Somonauk with a friend, who con- 
tributed a part of his fare. Peter Schaff- 
man was the friend, and a good friend he 
was indeed. 

Arriving in Somonauk he had not a cent 
and for one year could do little or nothing, 
being sick the greater portion of the time. 
But he worked as best he could, a part of 
the time for brick and stone masons and on 
the farm of Joseph Dickson, of Sandwich, 
and also for another farmer north of Somo- 
nauk. At this time a farm in the neighbor- 
hood was offered for sale, its owner living 
in Chicago. John Lewis, the farmer for 
whom our subject was then working, sent 
him to Chicago to buy the farm, which was 
to be divided between them. On going to 
the city he received, an offer from Bowen 
Brothers, wholesale dry-goods dealers, as a 
clerk, which position he accepted and so let 
the farm go. The farm is still there, but 
the farmer has long since gone to his 
reward. Before he died our subject 
worked for him for a length of time, the 
farmer having forgiven him for not making 
the purchase, and they became the best of 
friends. After remaining with Bowen Broth- 
ers for one 3'ear Mr. Betz went to Burling- 
ton, Iowa, where he secured work in Rand's 
lumber yard. \\'hile there he was united 
in marriage with Miss Barbara Koeth, of 
Chicago, but a native of Germany, who 
came with her parents to the United States 
when but eight years of age, the family 
locating in Rochester, New York. The 
date of their marriage was July 23, 1857. 
In the fall of 1857 Mr. Betz, being in ill 
health, concluded to once more make Somo- 
nauk his home. The hard times of 1857 



was now on and no work was to be ob- 
tained. In the old country he had learned 

to make willow baskets and the idea came 
to him that he might take up this occupa- 
tion in Somonauk and thus keep the wolf 
from the door. Beginning their manufact- 
ure he continued in the same for thirteen 
winters, disposing of his wares principally 
in the neighborhood, but sending some to 
Chicago. In the summers he worked by the 
day for the farmers and was four summers 
on the railroad track as a. common hand, 
after which he took contracts for making 
fences for farmers and also erected a fence 
in Clinton township, on the Chicago & Iowa 
Railroad. After this he worked three 
months for carpenters, but, not getting his 
pay, he began carpentering and contracting 
on his own account. This he did for four 
years, then commenced the lumber business 
with a cash capital of one hundred dollars. 
In one year he was four thousand four 
hundred dollars in debt, and this caused him 
man}' a sleepless night. However, by 
energy, industry and economy, and the excel- 
lent help of his good wife, he pulled through, 
paid the debts and continued the business. 
He has been very fortunate and is to-day 
considered one of the most substantial busi- 
ness men, not only of Somonauk, but of the 
southern portion of De Kalb county. About 
1885 he added an agricultural and machin- 
ery department to his business, together 
with wagons, carriages and buggies, and 
later paints and oils have been added. He 
keeps two salesmen regularly and also a 
workmen, while his nephew does the out- 
side work and he the office work of the 
business. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bet/, have no children of 
their own, but in 1870, they adopted Ida 
Harmon, who later married John Rhem- 



468 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gruber, and they reside in Chicago where 
he is employed as a detective on the rail- 
road. Mr. and Mrs. Betz, as well as their 
adopted daughter and her husband, are 
members of the Lutheran church. In poli- 
tics Mr. Bet;? is a Republican. In 1854 he 
read Uncle Tom's Cabin in the (iernian lan- 
guage, and on coming to America that had 
much to do in settling his political faith. 

Mr. and Mrs. Betz are justly numbered 
among the influential people of Somonauk. 
They are worthy and kind hearted, and are 
now enjoying a well earned prosperit}' in 
the evening of their lives. Their home is a 
beautiful one, and they dispense a delight- 
ful hospitality to their large circle of friends. 
Having proved himself an excellent man of 
business, Mr. Betz can now well afford to 
enjoy the fruits of his industry, surrounded 
by the comforts and lu.xuries which his own 
hands have earned. For some years he has 
at certain seasons visited the Pacific coast, 
including the Yellowstone Park, and other 
places of interest. A few jears since, he 
visited New Orleans and while there at- 
tended tlie lumbermen's excursion along the 
coast, and formed many pleasant and most 
serviceable acquaintances. His good wife 
was his traveling companion, and they had 
a most excellent time. They have both 
seen and had many of the ups and downs of 
life, but by their good management have 
secured a competency in their decline of 
life. 



FRANCIS M. COLES, who resides on 
section 26, South Grove township, is a 
native of Somersetshire, England, born De- 
cember 15, 1845, and is a son of George M. 
and Harriet H. (Prescott) Coles, both na- 
tives of the same shire in England, and who 



were the parents of seven children, Henry, 
John, James, George, Francis M., Harriet 
and Frederick. By occupation the father 
was a farmer, and dealer in fine fiorses in 
his native land. 

In his native country our subject grew to 
manhood, remaining under the parental 
roof until he was twenty years of age, and 
receiving a fairly good education in the 
common schools. Like thousands of others 
in the Old \\'orld who had heard of the 
New, with its unlimited opportunities to 
advance in life, he determined to come to 
this favored land and when but twenty 
years old crossed the ocean alone and com- 
ing direct to De Kalb county secured em- 
ployment of a farm at twenty-five dollars 
per month. He continued in various em- 
ployment until 1885, and up to that time 
had traveled almost throughout the entire 
United States. On the 4th of March, 1885, 
he married Mrs. Mary A. Rich, widow of 
Thomas Rich, who was a native of Somer- 
setshire, England. -She is a daughter of 
John and Martha Bnrstan, both of whom 
were also natives of Somersetshire, Eng- 
land, and who were the parents of nine 
children, four of whom are living, William, 
Charles, Mary A., and George. Mrs. Coles 
was married to her first husband, Thomas 
Rich, January 26, 1S70, and at once came 
with him to South Ciro\e township, De Kalb 
county, Illinois, where he purchased one 
hundred and twenty acres of land, and en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. His death 
occurred on the farm, lune 13, 1884, at the 
age of fifty-six years. 

After his marriage, Mr. Coles took up 
his residence on the farm of his wife, where 
they have since continued to reside. They 
have added a forty-acre tract to the original 
farm and it now comprises one liundred and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



469 



sixty acres of fine productive land. In 
politics Mr. Coles is a stanch Republican, 
and is a member of the Church of England, 
of which body his wife is also a member. 
Fraternally he is a Mason, holding mem- 
bership in the blue lodge, chapter and coni- 
mandery, and also of the Eastern Star. In 
the latter body his wife is also a member. 
He is likewise a member of the Maccabees. 



JABEZ CAMPBELL, who resides on 
section 21, Sycamore township, where 
he is engaged in general farming, was born 
in Chenango county, New York, in the 
town of Greene, May 5, 1844, and is the 
son of John R. and Clarinda (Marvin) Camp- 
bell, the former a native of Delaware coun- 
ty, New York, born in November, 18 10, 
and died in October, 1891, and the latter 
born in Connecticut in 18 10, and died in 
1892. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, four of whom are living: James L., 
of Sycamore; Abigail, widow of John Black, 
residing in Sycamore; Jabez, and Almira, 
wife of Clark A. Winans, of East State 
street, Sycamore. In politics John R. 
Campbell was originally a \\'hig, and later 
a Republican. Tne paternal grandfather, 
Jabez Campbell, born in one of the eastern 
states, was of Scotch descent. He died in 
Chenango county. New York, when prob- 
ably eighty years of age. 

The subject of this sketch came west in 
1853, with his parents. While jet residing 
in New York, he attended the district 
schools, and again after his removal to De 
Kalb county. For ten years after the ar- 
rival of the family in De Kalb county, the 
father rented land, and in 1863, he made 
his first purchase of seventy acres, to which 
he later added forty acres more. In addi- 



tion he became the owner of several houses 
and lots in De Kalb. Our subject remained 
with his parents until he attained his ma- 
jority. He was married in Crystal Lake, 
Illinois, March 24, 1867, to Mary L. Hoff- 
man, a native of Nunda, Illinois, born 
April 18, 1848, and a daughter of David S. 
Hoffman, a nati\'e of Cayuga county, New 
York, born June 10, 1825. He was twice 
married. His first union being with Valonia 
G. Stanard, a native of Vermont, who died 
in 1857, leaving one child, Mary L., now 
Mrs. Campbell. The paternal grandfather 
of Mrs. Campbell, Colonel William Hoff- 
man, was born in Cayuga county, New York, 
about 1773. He was the son of Mathias 
Hoffman, a native of Germany. He was 
married August 20, 1814, in Cayuga coun- 
ty. New York, to Lovilla Sears, born June 
'o, 1773. From Cayuga county he moved 
to Livingston county. New York, in 1826, 
and there reisded until 1837, when he 
moved west to McHenry county, Illinois, 
where his death occurred. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell seven chil- 
dren were born, five of whom are living. 
Stewart married Emma Nichols, and they 
have one child, Lewis. They make their 
home in Mayfield township. Minnie mar- 
ried Bert Gustavison, and they reside in 
Sycamore township. Lettie married Will- 
iam Graham, of Maj'field township, who is 
now serving as school director and road 
comniifsioner, and who is a Republican in 
politics. They have two children, Violet 
and Irene. Cora and John Ernest yet re- 
side at home. 

In October, 1864, Mr. Campbell en- 
listed in Company B, Thirty-first Regiment 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He joined the 
regiment in the south and his first battle 
was near Atlanta. With his regiment he 



470 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was through the Atlanta campaign, and on 
the march to the sea The regiment was 
near Raleigh, North Carolina, when the 
news of Lee's surrender was proclaimed. 
They were then ordered through Richmond 
to Washington, where they participated in 
the grand review. From Washington the 
regiment was sent to Louisville, Kentuck\-, 
where it was mustered out, but received 
its discharge at Springfield, in August, 
1865. Returning to his home after receiv- 
ing his discharge, Mr. Campbell worked for 
his father one year, then married and began 
life for himself. He purchased a farm near 
his father's, and has since bought the old 
homestead. He is engaged in general farm- 
ing, and has no cause to regret having chosen 
the vocation of a farmer for his life work. 



JAMES NISBET, whose residence is on 
section 27, Paw Paw township, but 
whose farm of three hundred and twenty 
acres, lies in sections 21, 22, 27 and 28, 
is a native of Paw Paw township, born 
on the old family homestead, October 28, 
1853. He is the son of Matthew Nisbet, a 
native of Scotland, liorn in Glasgow, in 
I 81 8, and who there grew to manhood, and 
emigrated to the New World about 1839, 
locating first in Canada, and who later trav- 
eled through Iowa and finally located in De 
Kalb count}-, Illinois, in 1841. He entered 
a tract of two hundred acres, to which he 
added till his farm comprised seven hundred 
and twenty-five acres in Paw Paw township, 
on which he located and whicii he thor- 
oughly improved. He was married in Paw 
Paw township to Miss Nancy Harper, a na- 
tive of New York, who came with her par- 
ents to De Kalb county, after arriving at 
mature years. On his farm Matthew Nis- 



bet built a stone house and there reared his 
family, djing March 23, 1873. His wife 
survives him and yet resides in the old home. 
They had a family of three sons and three 
daughters. Elizabeth is the wife of James 
Harper, a farmer of Paw Paw township. 
Isabella is the wife of William Hyde, of 
Bedford, Iowa. \N'illiam is a farmer resid- 
ing in Paw Paw township. Mary is the 
wife of C. V. Weddell, of Paw Paw town- 
ship. Lawrence owns and operates the 
home farm. James is the subject of this 
sketch. 

On the home farm James Nisbet grew 
to manhood, and in the neighborhood 
schools received his education. He re- 
mained with his father, assisting in the farm 
work, until the latter's death, and when in 
his twentieth year, March 3, 1873, was 
united in marriage with Miss Lemira J. 
Bartlett, a daughter of E. O. Bartlett, of 
Paw Paw township. She was reared in the 
township and educated in the Paw Paw 
Seminary. Two children came to bless their 
union, Dora B. and Ethel. 

After his marriage, Mr. Nisbet moved 
to the place where he now resides. His 
father had given him eighty acres of land 
and he bought an adjoining eighty acres on 
which was an old house, and which was 
partially improved. He has since purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres, giving him a 
fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, 
the greater part of which is now under a 
high state of cultivation. The farm is well 
drained, having some four or five miles of 
tiling, and is a most valuable place. He 
annually feeds for the market from four to 
six carloads of stock, and in all iiis farming 
operations he is quite successful. He cast 
his first presidential ballot for R. B. Hayes 
in 1876, and has since been an earnest sup- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



471 



porter of the Republican party. He is now 
filling the position of commissioner of high- 
ways, an office which he is well qualified to 
fill. He has also served as township trus- 
tee in a satisfactory manner. Taking an 
active interest in local politics, he has often 
represented his township in the various con- 
ventions of his party. A progressive farmer, 
he keeps up with the times, and his place is 
well supplied with all the labor saving ap- 
pliances known to the farming community. 



HALVOR KITTELSON, who resides on 
section 32, Milan township, but who 
is living a retired life, came to De Kalb 
county in i860. He is a native of Norway, 
born April 6, 1S36, and grew to manhood 
in his native country, being reared on a 
farm. In the common schools of the old 
country he received a litnited education, his 
knowledge of English being acquired after 
the removal to this country. He was mar- 
in Norway in i860 to Miss Julia Hillison, 
also a native of Norway, and born in the 
same neighborhood as that of her husband. 
Soon after their marriage they bid farewell 
to their friends and set sail for the New 
World. Arriving in New York they came 
direct to Illinois and located in La Salle 
county, where Mr. Kittelson rented land and 
engaged in farming. After raising three 
crops, in 1863 he came to De Kalb county 
and bought eighty acres, which coinprises a 
part of the farm on which he now resides. 
His industrious habits and strict economy 
enabled him a little later to purchase one 
hundred and sixty acres, which is now occu- 
pied by his son Henry. He also purchased 
eighty acres on section 3 1 , but has sold forty 
acres of the home farm. 



Mr. and Mrs. Kittelson are the parents 
of four children. Cora resides at home. 
Henry is married and is engaged in farming 
in Milan township. Isbell is married and 
engaged in farming in Lee county. Julia is 
the wife of Martin Ruddell, of Milan town- 
ship. The family are all industrious and, 
like their parents, have been successful in 
their chosen avocation. Politically, Mr. 
Kittelson is a strong Republican and has 
given his support to that party during his 
entire residence in this country. The entire 
family are members of the Lutheran church, 
in which faith they were reared. All are 
well known and highly respected in the 
co.nmunity in which they have so long re- 
sided. 



M.AJOR JOHN W. BURST, a veteran 
of the Civil war, and one who has a 
national reputation among his comrades, 
now residing in the city of Sycamore, was 
born in Meredith, Delaware county, New 
York, July 29, 1S43, ^"'l 's the son of Jacob 
C. and Olive A. (Comstock) Burst, both of 
whom were natives of Schoharie county. 
New York. By occupation the father was 
a farmer, which vocation he followed dur- 
ing his entire life. His death occurred in 
his native state about 1880. Politically he 
was a Democrat until i860, after which time 
he was an enthusiastic Republican. The 
mother was a daughter of Ebenezer and 
Hannah (Snook) Comstock. Her father 
being a soldier in the Mexican war. The 
paternal grandfather, John I. Burst, was 
also a native of Schoharie county, and 
there married Sarah Luckey. Her sisters, 
while at Poughkeepsie, met and entertained 
LaFayette on his visit to America. An uncle 
of John I. Burst, Jacob Burst, was an offi- 



472 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cer in the Revolutionary war. Ttie family 
. are of Holland descent. 

The subject of this sketch spent his 
boyhood and youth in his native state, and 
received his education in the Ferguson 
Academy and in the Charlotte Academy, 
which he attended until the age of fourteen 
years. He then went to New York city, 
making his home with an uncle, attending 
to his collections, while at the same time 
going to school. In the fall of i860 he 
came to De Kalb county, and stopped at 
Kirkland, where relatives were then living. 
During the winter following he worked in 
the store of Mr. Ryder, at Belvidere. 

The election of Abraham Lincoln re- 
sulted in the Civil war, and under the first 
call for three hundred thousand men, Mr. 
Burst enlisted May 15, 1861, in Company 
D, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
and was mustered into the service as a pri- 
vate at Freeport, Illinois. The regiment 
was first sent to Alton, where it was in 
camp for a time, after which it was sent to 
Me.xico, Missouri. Here Mr. Burst first 
met General Grant. While there he was 
poisoned by some insect, which crossed his 
face while sleeping, resulting in the loss of 
the use of his eyes for some time. He was 
sent home and suffered greatly through the 
winter, and was not able to use his eyes 
until the summer of 1862, having been dis- 
charged in December, 1861. 

On the loth of August, 1862, Mr. Burst 
re-enlisted in Company C.One Hundred and 
Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was 
mustered into the service at Di.\on, Illinois, 
September 2, 1862. The regiment was 
then sent to Chicago for a few days, and 
from there to Louisville, Kentucky, and 
later to Frankfort, in the same state. By 
a forced march, it went to Lexington, and 



was in the chase after Morgan. Re- 
turning to Lexington, it was later at Bow- 
ling Green, Hartsville, Galatin, and then to 
Tunnel Hill, where it guarded the tunnel 
during the greater part of the winter. Re- 
turning to Galatin, it was then sent to 
Nashville, and on to La \'ergne and Mur- 
physborough. It was then sent back to 
La Vergne and Nashville, and from the lat- 
ter place started to join Sherman at Chat- 
tanooga. Crossing the Cumberland mount- 
ains it went by the way of the Wauhatchie 
valley, near the line of the Nashville 
and Chattanooga Railroad, crossing the 
riverat Stephenson, Alabama. It took posi- 
tion in the Wauhatchie valley, under the 
point of Lookout Mountain. The regiment 
was next in Sherman's campaign to Atlanta, 
crossing Chickamauga Valley, by Gordon's 
Mills, near Rockey Face Gap, through 
Snake Creek Gap, to Ressaca, facing John- 
son's army. The regiment lay under fire 
May 14, 1864. On the 15th the Twelfth 
Corps was ordered around to the leftofRes- 
aca, where they formed and made an ad- 
vance, under heavy fire of the main body 
of Johnson's army. They forced the ene- 
my back behind the breastworks, and cap- 
tured the redoubt in which there were four 
fine brass cannon. The regiment was en- 
gaged in fighting the entire day, the enemy 
leaving during the night. 

Moving on with the army, the next en- 
gagement participated in by the regiment 
was at Cassville, Georgia, where the enemy 
was driven from its position. Johnson's 
army here divided, a part going towards 
Rome, and the remainder towards Dallas. 
On the 25th of May the regiment was in 
the engagement at New Hope Church, and 
skirmishing for position, moving by right 
and left Hank, the division in which the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



473 



One Hundred and Fifth was attached, en- 
gaging the enemy about 6 p. m. Shortly 
after the battle commenced, our subject 
had his leg shot off by a shell, which struck 
him before it exploded. His leg was ampu- 
tated in the field hospital, and the next day 
he was taken across the mountains forty- 
five miles to Kingston, Georgia. The sec- 
ond morning he was placed on a train in a 
freight car, and taken to Chattanooga. On 
arriving there, he was at once carried into 
the receiving tent, and the wound was ex- 
amined. Gangrene had set in, and he was 
ordered to the gangrene ward. Another 
amputation was promptly made, but the 
wound never healed, and a third amputa- 
tion was made after his arrival home. He 
was sent home about the middle of July, 
1864, again being sent in a cattle car, 
in which he went from Chattanooga to 
Nashville. Here he was placed in the 
officers' hospital, and later sent home. 

Major Burst went into service as a pri- 
vate, and was then orderly-sergeant for six 
months, and served as second lieutenant 
one year and first lieutenant one year. He 
was commissioned captain, but never must- 
ered, the commission being received after 
the loss of his leg. After recovering from 
his wound, Major Burst was appointed 
postal clerk in the railway mail service. 
This was in the spring of 1865, and he 
served in that position until the fall of 1866, 
when he was appointed postmaster of Syca- 
more. After serving four years as post- 
master, he returned in 1871 to the railway 
mail service, with which he was connected 
until 1886, when he resigned during the ad- 
ministration of President Cleveland. In 
the spring of 1887, he was appointed by 
Governor Oglesby, warehouse registrar at 
Chicago, and served during his administra- 



tion, and two years under Governor Fifer. 
At the retjuest of Jeremiah Rusk, secretary 
of agriculture, he was appointed by Secre- 
tary Foster, of the treasury, inspector of 
immigration in Chicago, and served until 
1893, when he resigned at the request of 
President Cleveland. In 1894, he was 
quartermaster-general of the G. A. R., and 
in 1895 Eind 1896, he was connected with 
the passenger department of the Chicago & 
Great Western Railroad. In the fall of 
i8g6, he was one of the "wrecks of the 
Rebellion," a party organized by General 
Alger, and composed of Generals Howard, 
Sickles, Stewart, Marden, Corporal Tanner 
and Major Burst. They made a tour of 
thirteen states in the interests of William 
McKinley. After McKinley became presi- 
dent Major Burst was again appointed in- 
spector of immigration at Chicago, which 
office he is still filling. 

On the 28th of March, 1871, Major 
Burst was united in marriage with Lettice 
Ann Mayo, born in Sycamore, and a daugh- 
ter of Judge Edward L. and Emily K. 
(Holden) Mayo, both of whom were natives 
of Vermont, and among the early settlers of 
De Kalb. Judge Mayo was born in 1807, 
and died in 1877, at the age of seventy 
years. For some years he was judge of the 
county court of De Kalb county, and was 
one of the leading lawyers of the county. 
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Burst 
were Larnard and Thirza (Marcey) Mayo, 
and the matern^ grandparents were Josiah 
and Betsy (Leland) Holden. To Major and 
Mrs. Burst three children were born: Ed- 
ward M., of whom mention is made else- 
where in this work; Bessie M., wife of 
Henry W. Prentice, an attorney of De Kalb; 
and Bertha C, at home. 

In politics Major Burst is a stanch Re- 



474 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



publican. He is a prominent member of 
the Grand Army of the Republic, and has 
held every office in the national organiza- 
tion with the exception of commander. 
Four times he was a prominent candidate 
for the latter office, and could have been 
elected if he would have bound himself by 
promises to appoint certain members to 
office. He assisted in organizing the Grand 
Army, and was a member of Ransom Post, 
of Chicago, the third post organized in the 
United States. In 1868 the organization 
went to pieces, and in 1869 it was re-organ- 
ized as a non-political organization, and its 
growth was so rapid that in 1870 it had si.\ 
hundred thousand members. Potter Post 
No. 12, of Sycamore, was organized by- 
Major Burst. For six years he was a mem- 
ber of the National G. A. R. pension com- 
mittee, and assisted in drafting pension bills, 
especially the bill passed in June, 1890, 
which has resulted in greater benefit to sol- 
diers than any bill passed since the war. 



ALVIN P. BURNHAM, who resides on 
section 21, Victor township, some four 
and a half miles north of Leland, where he 
owns a well improved farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres, has been a resident of De 
Kalb county since 1855. He was born 
near Portland, Maine, May 15, 1836, and 
is the son of Bain Burnham, a native of the 
same state and county, born in 1799, and 
the grandson of Moses Bilrnham, also a 
native of Maine. The family is of Eng- 
lish descent, four brothers emigrating from 
England in the 17th century, one locating 
in Maine, another in Massachusetts, the 
third in New Hampshire, and the fourth in 
New York. Moses Burnham was a pioneer 
of Androscoggin county, Maine, where he 



made a home in the wilderness and reared 
his family. Bain Burnham was there reared 
and married Eliza Haskell, also a native of 
the same county and state, and a daughter 
of 'Squire Haskell. They reared their fam- 
ily in their native county, but later came 
west and joined one of their sons in De 
Kalb county, Illinois, and here spent the re- 
mainder of their lives, the father dying in 
Dwight, at the residence of a daughter in 
1870. His wife survived him a few years, 
dying in 1875. Of their four sons and two 
daughters, all grew to mature years. J. H. 
grew to manhood, remained in Maine, 
where his death occurred. Emma H. mar- 
ried Frederick Lakin, of Maine, and later 
they came to De Kalb county and now re- 
side at Sandwich. Octa\ia married J. M. 
Smith, settled in Dwight and there died. 
Alvin P. is the subject of this review. Sum- 
ner was a member of the One Hundred and 
Fourth Volunteer Infantry, and was killed 
in battle at Huntsville, Tennessee, in 1864. 
John was also a soldier in the Civil war, 
serving in a regiment- from Maine, and died 
in a hospital of disease contracted while in 
the service. 

Alvin P. Burnham was nineteen years of 
age when he left his native state and came 
to Illinois. He attended the common 
schools of his native state, and also the 
North Bridgeton Academ}', receiving a fairly 
good education. He came direct to Le- 
land, Illinois, and there spent the season 
and for four or five years worked by the 
month for various farmers. In the fall of 
i860, in La Salle county, he married Cyn- 
thia P. Morton, a native of Maine, but 
mostly reared and educated in Lynn, Mass- 
achusetts, coming west with her father, 
George Morton, in 1856, the family locat- 
ing in La Salle county. She there engaged 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



475 



in teaching, in which occupation she con- 
tinued until her marriage. By this union 
there was one daughter, Clara M., now the 
wife of Charles G. Arnold, a native of De 
Kalb county, and a man of good education, 
and good business qualities. Mrs. Arnold 
is also well educated, and in addition to the 
common schools of the neighborhood, at- 
tended the high school in Leland. They 
now reside on the Burnharn farm. 

After marriage Mr. Burnham rented 
land in La Salle county some four or five 
years then moved to Livingston county, and 
purchased a farm of one hundred and si.x 
acres which he cultivated until i86S, when 
he sold out and came to De Kalb county 
and purchased the farm where fie now re- 
sides. It was a partially improved farm, 
but has been greatly changed since coming 
into possession of its present owner who 
has built two good residences, good barns, 
and various outbuildings, enclosing it with 
a neat and well trimmed hedge fence, and 
beautifying it by shade and ornamental 
trees. In addition to general farming he 
has made a specialty of breeding and deal- 
ing in standard bred horse, mostly Eng- 
lish draft horses, and has followed that 
business for some years, and in it meet- 
ing with good success. Politically Mr. 
Burnham is a Republican, with which part}- 
he has been identified since its organization, 
and has voted for each of its presidential 
nominees. In 1872 he was elected asses- 
sor of Victor township, and by re-election 
has now served continuously for twenty-six 
years. He has also served for some years 
as a member of the school board, giving 
much of his time to advance the interests 
of the public schools. He is well known 
in both La Salle and De Kalb counties, and 
where best known he is the most highly es- 

23 



teemed. His long continued service as 
assessor shows the confidence in which he 
is held by the citizens of Victor township. 



FRANK E. HILLS, who resides in Syca- 
more, but is secretary, manager and 
principal owner of the Abram Ellwood 
Manufacturing Company, De Kalb, Illinois, 
was born in Middletown, October 24, 1843. 
His father, Lorenzo R. Hills, was born at 
Martinsburg, Lewis county. New York, Jan- 
uary 28, 18 12, and died at Sandwich, Illi- 
nois, December 22, 1889. He was a car- 
penter and builder by trade, an occupation 
which he followed during his entire life. 
For a time he resided in Connecticut, but 
in 1853, removed to Plainfield, Illinois, and 
in 1863, to Sandwich. He was a leading 
builder and contractor, and erected most of 
the largest buildings that were constructed 
in the places where he resided during his act- 
ive career. He married ?vlary A. Frary, 
born in Haverhill, New Hampshire, in the 
beautiful Connecticut Valley, July 23, 18 14, 
and the daughter of Elisha Frary, then re- 
siding in Haverhill. She died in De Kalb 
county, February 6, 1878. The paternal 
grandfather of our subject was Russell Hills, 
a carpenter and builder, who married Lu- 
cretia Robins, and died at Martinsburg, 
New York. 

Frank E. Hills moved with his parents 
from Middletown, Connecticut, to Plain- 
field, Will county, Illinois, where he lived 
ten years. He attended the common 
schools in both Middletown, Connecticut, 
and Plainfield, Illinois, and was a pjpil for 
one year in Clark Seminary, at Aurora, 
where his literary education was completed. 
The war for the Union was then in progress, 
and our subject enlisted in August, 1862, at 



4/6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Plainfield, in Company D, One Hundredth 
Illinois \'olnnteer Infantry, and with his 
regiment went south, the regiment becoming 
a part of the Army of the Cumberland. He 
was in the battles of Perryville, Stone 
River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Frank- 
lin, and Nashville, Tennessee, and in the 
entire .\tlanta campaign. After the expir- 
ation of his term of service, he was mustered 
out at Chicago. 

After leaving the service, Mr. Hills 
joined the family at Sandwich, where they 
had moved in 1863. He then again took 
up the carpenter's trade, at which he worked 
for two years. He was then employed as 
bookkeeper in a hardware store until 1875, 
when he was elected corresponding secre- 
tary of the Sandwich Enterprise Company, 
remaining with that institution until 1878, 
when he became associated with the Reuben 
Ellwood Manufacturing Company at Syca- 
more, with Vvhich he was connected until 
1890. When General Dustin resigned the 
office of circuit clerk at that time, Mr. Hills 
was appointed to fill the vacancy. From 
1892 10 1896, he was engrossing clerk of 
the state senate. Since the latter date he 
has been secretary and manager of the A. 
Ellwood Manufacturing Company, at De 
Kalb. 

Mr. Hills was married in Sandwich, Illi- 
nois, January 4, 1867, to Miss Mantie Sud- 
doth, a native of Delaware county, Ohio, 
and a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Baxter) 
Suddoth, natives of Culpeper county, Vir- 
ginia. Her father was a well-educated man 
and during his young manhood had charge 
of a large plantation and many slaves of his 
father, Robert Henry Suddoth, near Cul- 
peper Courthouse. Some years before the 
war he moved to Delaware county, Ohio, 
and later to Plaintield, Will county, Illinois, 



and still later to Sandwich, Illinois, where 
he died in 186 1. To Mr. and Mrs. Hills 
four children have been born, Hattie Belle, 
Alberta \'ermelle, Frank Robins and Harry 
Preston. The first named died at the age 
of twenty-two months, and the last named 
in 1895 at the age of eighteen years. 

In politics Mr. Hills is a thorough Re- 
publican and has ever taken an active inter- 
est in political affairs, or as much as his 
business interests would permit. He is a 
Mason and holds membership with the blue 
lodge, chapter of Sandwich and command- 
ery at Sj'camnre. He is also a member of 
the Knights of Pythias and the Grand Arm\- 
of the Republic. Thoroughly progressive, 
a good business manager and with fine ex- 
ecutive abilit\% he has been enabled to rise 
to a position of authority and placed at the 
head of one of the most "important manu- 
facturing institutions in De Kalb county. 
He is ever ready to champion anything that 
will advance the best interests of his adopted 
city and county, and this fact commends 
him to all business and professional men, 
those on whose efforts the country relies for 
its growth and well being. 



WH. WRIGHT, ma^-or of Somonauk, 
and assistant cashier of the Somo- 
nauk Bank, was born in the village October 
28, 1862, and is the son of Thomas J. and 
Lois M. (Gage) Wright, of whom mention 
is made elsewhere in this work. He was 
reared in the village, and after completing 
a course in its public schools, was engaged 
in farm work some five years. In 1890 he 
returned to the village and took his present 
position as assistant cashier of the Somo- 
nauk Bank, which position he has filled ever 
since. He was elected clerk of the \illage 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



47? 



and held the office two terms, and was then 
elected village trustee and served one term. 
In April, 1898, he was elected mayor of the 
village and is now serving as such official. 
Mr. Wright was married March 10, 1888, 
to Miss Nettie Moore, daughter of John W. 
and Amaretta (Hupp) Moore, who came to 
this section of the slate from the east, and 
who are yet living, the father being an ex- 
tensive farmer in La Salle county. By this 
union was one child, La Verne, who died at 
the age of six months. Before her marriage 
Mrs. Wright was a successful teacher in the 
schools of the county. She departed this 
life at the age of twenty-three years, her 
death being mourned, not alone by the sor- 
rowing husband, but by many friends in De 
Kalb and La Salle counties. 

Mr. Wright is a member of Somonauk 
Lodge, No. 646, A. F. & A. M. , and of Sand- 
wich chapter, R. A. M. In politics he is a 
Democrat. As a business man, he is re- 
garded as one of the most prominent and 
worthy in De Kalb county, and is entitled to 
the honors bestowed upon him by the official 
position which he has been called on to fill. 



PETER POULSON is one of the large 
number who have come to this free 
land from Sweden and have assisted in the 
development of much of the new country. 
He now resides on a fine farm in Franklin 
township, which is the result of his own in- 
dustry and thrifty habits. He was born in 
Sweden March 2$, 1843, and is the son of 
Paul and Ellen (Larson) Poulson, both na- 
tives of Sweden and who were the parents 
of seven children — Joseph, Peter, Andrew, 
John, Betsy, Hannah and Christian. Of 
these Andrew and Christian are deceased. 
Paul Anderson has followed the occupation 



of a farmer during his entire life. He never 
left his native land. In his native country 
Peter Poulson grew to manhood and was 
educated in the parochial schools. With 
the aim of bettering his condition in life, he 
came to the United States in 1868, coming 
direct from New York to Rockford, Illinois, 
where he arrived November 4, 1868. His 
first employment in this country was at 
street paving at Rockford, and then upon a 
farm, where he worked by the day. In 
1880 he bought eighty-five acres, a portion 
of the land comprised in his present farm, 
and has since been engaged in farming for 
himself. On the 13th of April, 1880, he 
married Mary Johnson, having returned to 
his native land with that object in view. 
With his young bride he again came to De 
Kalb county and at once commenced the 
improvement of his farm. On his first ar- 
rival in this country he had but a five-dollar 
gold piece and with this capital he went to 
work and success has crowned his efforts. 

Mr. and Mrs. Poulson have seven chil- 
dren living, as follows: Sophia, Alo. Alfred, 
Robert, Amiel, Rosa and Pearl. Six children 
are deceased — Freda, Earnest, Estes, Ame- 
lia and two unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Poul- 
son are members of the Swedish Lutheran 
church, and in politics he is a Republican. 
In the spring of 1 889 he was elected road 
commissioner for a term of three years, and 
has three times been re-elected and is serv- 
ing his fourth term. The confidence re- 
posed in him by his friends and neighbors 
is shown by his continued re-election. 



LP. HARVEY, residing at Clare Station, 
Mayfield township, has been activelv 
engaged in the manufacture of butter for the 
past sixteen years. He is a native of 



47« 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Canada, born near Montreal, July 24, 1S44, 
and is the son of Gardner Harvey, also a 
native of Canada, and the grandson of L. 
P. Harve}', a native of Massachusetts. The 
Harvey family are of Scotch ancestry, 
the original ancestor coming to this 
country from the vicinity of Glasgow, 
in the seventeenth century, and lo- 
cating in Massachusetts. L. P. Harvey, 
Sr., removed from Massachusetts to Cana- 
da at quite an early day and there engaged 
in the milling business, manufacturing both 
flour and lumber. He built five flouring 
mills and seven sawmills, and also owned 
and operated a distillery and a large farm. 

Gardner Harvey was reared in Canada, 
and there morried Miss Lydia Boynton, her 
father being also a miller and fanner. After 
their marriage in 1858, they moved to 
Portage county, Wisconsin, where he built 
a sawmill and engaged in the manufacture 
of lumber, remaining there some five or six 
years, then moving to Amherst, Wisconsin, 
where he spent some years, and later moved 
to Florida, where he engaged in orange 
growing some twelve years. Selling out, he 
returned to Wisconsin and died in Amherst, 
in January, i8y8. His wife yet survives 
him. 

The subject of this sketch remained in 
Canada until sixteen years of age, engaged 
with his father in the mill and assisting in 
cultivating the home farm. While residing 
in his native countr}-, he had good school 
privileges of which he made good use, and 
after his removal to Wisconsin, he attended 
the common schools of that state, and later 
spent one year in a business college at Mil- 
waukee. In his youth he had some experi- 
ence as a clerk in a mercantile establishment 
and after completing his studies he engaged 
in the general mercantile business at Am- 



herst, Wisconsin, and there continued three 
years, meeting with fair success. Selling 
out, he was in the employ of the Wisconsin 
Central Railroad for four years as agent and 
telegraph operator. From Amherst he 
came to De Kalb county, Illinois, and lo- 
cated at Kingston, where he engaged in the 
milling, flour and feed business, in which he 
continued four years. In 1SS2 he com- 
menced work in a creamery for other parties 
at Colvin Park, Illinois, and continued to 
be thus employed until 1892, when he went 
to Clare Station, and bought out an estab- 
lished business which he still continues to 
operate. In 1897 he purchased the cream- 
ery at Esmond, Illinois, and is now operat- 
ing both creameries, manufacturing on an 
average five hundred and fifty pounds daily 
during the entire year. He pays the farm- 
ers for milk from two thousand five hun- 
dred dollars to three thousand dollars per 
month. 

Mr. Harvey was united in marriage at 
Amherst, Wisconsin, December 24, 1S69, ' 
with Miss Eliza Loing," a native of Boone 
county, Illinois, and a daughter of .Stanton 
Loing, a pioneer of Boone county, from 
New York. B}' this union there are three 
children: Heber is a practical buttermaker 
and is managing the creamery at Esmond. 
Mary and Walter yet remain at home, the 
latter assisting in the Clare creamery. They 
lost one son, Herbert, who died at the age 
of two years. 

The first presidential vote cast by Mr. 
Harvey v^fas in 1868, for General U. S. 
Grant, since which time he has been an 
earnest advocate of the principles of the 
Republican party. While always refusing 
official position, he has yet been prevailed 
upon to serve as a member of the school 
board. Religiously Mrs. Har\ey is identi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



479 



fied wfth the Baptists, being a member of 
the Baptist church. While neither a pio- 
neer nor an old settler of De I\alb county, 
Mr. Harvey is yet well known and has many 
friends in the county as well as in the ad- 
joining county of Boone. 



H' 



ON. BYRON F. WYMAN is a retired 
farmer residing on section 36, Syca- 
more township. He was born on the farm 
where he now resides, March ig, 1839. His 
v father, Ralph Wyman, was born in 181 3 at 
Wethersfield, Windsor county, Vermont, 
and was the son of Asa and Sallie (Searles) 
Wj'man, the former a native of Townsend, 
Massachusetts, who came west in 1856, and 
died at the age of seventy-five years. His 
wife, who was a daughter of Joseph and 
Abigail (Patton) Searles, both of whom were 
natives of Townsend, Massachusetts, at- 
tained the age of ninety-one years. The 
Wjmans are of German origin and are de- 
scendants of two brothers, Weymann, who 
left Germany and sojourned for a time in 
Wales, but finally came to America. John 
Weymann, a tanner by trade, married Sarah 
Nutt. Francis Weymann, also a tanner, 
first married Judith Pierce, and later Abi- 
gail Reid, and lived in Massachusetts the 
latter half of the seventeenth century. Asa 
W\man was born in Townsend, Middlesex 
county, Massachusetts, and was the son of 
Elijah Wyman, who died January 21, 1789, 
at the age of forty-two years. He married 
Abigail Wetherby, who died September u, 
1825, at the age of seventy-two years. 
Elijah Wyman was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war, and the gun which he carried 
was long in possession of his son, Asa. 

Ralph Wyman, the father of our subject, 
vvhen two years of age, accompanied his 



parents from Wethersfield, Vermont, to 
Worcester, Massachusetts, and in a few 
years to Middletown, Vermont. In 1836 
he came west and settled on the farm where 
our subject now resides, but, in 1837, re- 
turned to Massachusetts, and there married 
Susan Dayton, born in Vermont, in Novem- 
ber, 1818, and a daughter of William Day- 
ton, also a native of Vermont. Immediately 
after his marriage he brought his bride to 
his new home, and they resided upon the 
farm until i S60, when they moved to the 
city of Sycamore. After his removal he 
followed various occupations, being inter- 
ested in a store for a time, then in a lumber 
yard, took contracts for erecting several 
buildings, and traded and speculated in 
store. His death occurred in 1864. His 
wife survived him and died at the age of 
seventy-four years. The subject of this 
sketch was reared on the home farm and 
received his primary education in the dis- 
trict schools. He later attended the schools 
at Sycamore and De Kalb, and Rock River 
Seminary at Mount Morris, Illinois. At the 
outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted. May 
24, 1861, in Company F, Thirteenth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, with which he ser\ed 
until June 18, 1S64. He was mustered into 
ihe service at Dixon, Illinois, and was in 
camp at Caseyville, Illinois, for a time, the 
regiment going from thence to Rollo, Mis- 
souri, and later, while on the way to Spring- 
field, Missouri, was in several engagements 
at Lynn Creek and at Wet Glaze. After- 
ward the regiment was sent to the aid of 
General Seigel at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, 
after which it made a long march through 
Arkansas (engaging the enemy several 
times), to Hulma, on the Mississippi river, 
and was then in the siege of Vicksburg. 
After the capture of Vicksburg, it was in the 



48o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



operations around Jackson, Mississippi, 
Brandon, and assisted in the capture of 
Arkansas Post, Arkansas. It was in action 
at Cherokee, Cane Creek and Tuscumbia, 
Alabama; Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, 
Ringgold Pass, Georgia, and at Madison 
Station, Alabama, which was the last en- 
gagement in which he participated. His 
term of service having expired, he was dis- 
charged at Springfield, Illinois, June i8, 
T864. He held the office of sergeant, and 
was wounded twice while in the service. 

On receiving his discharge, Mr. Wjman 
returned home, and for a short time clerked 
in a grocery store in Sycamore. He then re- 
turned to the old home farm, which with the 
exception of four or five years, has since been 
his home. He was married October 19, 
1865, at Bear Creek, Wisconsin, to Miss 
Nettie S. Lowell, born in Moretown, Ver- 
mont, and daughter of Martin L. Lowell, a 
native of Lemster, New Hampshire. By 
this union there are seven children. Ralph 
L. graduated from the Northwestern Uni- 
versity, Evanston, Illinois, married Kate A. 
Russell, and is now practicing law in Chi- 
cago. Luther Everett is a graduate of 
Lombard University, Galesburg, Illinois, 
and is now chief clerk in a stock broker's 
office, Chicago. Frank E. and Bernard A. 
have been running the home farm since 
1893, and dealing in farm produce in Syca- 
more. \'incent U. is a graduate of the 
Sycamore high school, and is now engaged 
in the practice of law in Chicago. Edmond 
S. and Cecil L. are still under the parental 
roof. 

Mr. Wyman has been a freijuent contrib- 
utor to the agricultural journals of the 
country, and for many years was secretary 
of the De Kalb County Agricultural Fair 
association, and has for a ninnber of years 



been statistical correspondent for the agri- 
cultural department at Washingtun. He is 
vice-president of the Kingston Mutual Insur- 
ance Company, a county corporation carry- 
ing one million five hundred thousand dollars 
of risk. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and fraternally is a mem- 
ber of the Modern Woodmen of America 
and Grand Army of the Republic. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican, and for fourteen 
years was one of the supervisor of Syca- 
more township. From 1891 to 1894, he 
was a member of the Illinois Board of 
World's Fair Commissioners, and for four 
years was a member of the Illinois State 
Board of Agriculture. He is a thoroughly 
posted man in agricultural matters, was one 
of the organizers of the Ue Kalb County 
Farmers' Institute, was many years its sec- 
retary, and was the first director of institu- 
tes for the congressional district in which he 
resides. He has frequent invitations to go 
to different parts of the state to assist in 
institute and con\ention work, and is well 
and favorably known throughout the state. 
He is also well known as a breeder of regis- 
tered Jersey cattle. He has given consider- 
able attention to horticultural matters, and 
his farm is well stocked with many varieties 
of fruit. 



WW. WOODBURY, superintendent 
of schools. Sandwich, Illinois, is an 
educator of superior ability. He was born 
in La Salle count}-, Illinois, September 19, 
1858, and is the son of John H. and Laura 
A. (Smith) Woodbury, the former a native 
of New York, and the latter of Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1844, when a boy of ten years 
of age, the father came west locating first 
in 'Wisconsin, where he remained until 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



481 



eighteen years of age, when he came to 
Illinois and located in La Salle county. 
His parents both died before his leaving 
Wisconsin. After remaining in La Salle 
county for a time, he later moved to Shab- 
bona tovi'nship, De Kalb county. He is a 
man of fine ability, well known throughout 
La Salle and De I\alb counties. Since the 
organization of the Republican party, he 
has been identified with it, although natur- 
ally independent in political affairs. His 
first presidential vote was cast for General 
John C. Fremont. His wife died in 1890, 
at the age of about fifty-seven years. She 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church for many years, and quite a devout 
woman. Thej- were the parents of four 
children, of whom our subject is the oldest. 
The others are E. O., residing in north- 
western Iowa; A. J., who is operating the 
old home farm, and Minnie, wife of M. J. 
Ladd, superintendent of schools at Warren, 
Illinois. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood on his father's farm and attended the 
public schools of the immediate vicinity. 
Later he took a course at the Teachers' In- 
stitute and Classical Seminary, at Paw 
l^aw, Illinois. He also received special 
training in various lines of study at the Chi- 
cago University and Wisconsin State Uni- 
versity. In 1879 he began teaching in the 
common schools of the state, and in 188S 
was made principal of the grammar schools 
of Sandwich, and in 1894 was elected to 
his present position as superintendent of its 
city schools, which position he has since con- 
tinued to hold. At the present time he has 
twelve teachers under him, and the schools 
are well graded, having a four years course 
of study, fitting the students for entry into 
the freshman class of the State University. 



In 1897 a class of eight pupils was grad- 
uated, and in 1898 a class of eleven pupils. 

In 1895 Mr. Woodbury was united in 
marriage with Miss Nellie G. Forsythe, 
daughter of William and Frances (Cole- 
man) Forsythe. For about seven years, 
Mrs. Woodbury was a teacher in the Sand- 
wich schools, and whs recognized as one of 
the best, l^oth Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury are 
members of the Presbyterian church, in 
which he is filling the position of elder. 
Both are active in Sunday-school work, 
and are teachers in the Presbyterian Sun- 
day school of Sandwich. Fraternally he 
is a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America. 

The lives and efforts of both Mr. and 
Mrs. ^^'oodbury have been exceedingly use- 
ful to the city of Sandwich, where they 
have been educators of pronounced ability, 
where the)' are deservedly held in high es- 
teem, their services giving a very high 
degree of satisfaction. They both possess 
that refinement and culture which is ac- 
quired only by close kinship with books 
and the best thev contain. 



JOHN GRAY, a retired farmer residing 
on section 5, Genoa township, was born 
in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 2, 
1816. He is the son of jacolj Gray, who 
was left an orphan boy and reared by Ger- 
man people. He was himself of German 
origin, the name being originally spelled 
Krah. He married Christina Bartoe, a 
daughter of John Bartoe, who married a 
Miss Beaver. Jacob Gray died at the age 
of fifty-six years, while his wife lived to be 
seventy-five years old. 

John Gray was reared in his native 
county and continued under his father's con- 



48: 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



trol until twenty-one years of age. When 
eleven years of age he commenced working 
out for others, receiving only his board and 
very scanty clothing. He then received 
four dollars a month for a year, and the fol- 
lowing year five dollars a month, and si.\ 
dollars a month for the succeeding year. 
From 1832 to 1834 he worked at home, but 
in the summer of 1834 again went out to 
service, at nine dollars per month. In 1835 
he built furnaces at eighteen dollars per 
month, and in 1836 worked at Mauch Chunk 
on the railroad. In 1837 he was engaged 
in work in a brickyard, and in 1838 worked 
in a stillhouse. 

On the 28th of December, 1838, Mr. 
Gray was united in marriage with Susanna 
Fague, a daughter of George and Elizabeth 
(Corson) Fague, by whom he had eight 
children, three of his daughters being mar- 
ried and living near the old home in Penn- 
sylvania. After his marriage Mr. Gray con- 
tinued to work in a distillery in Union coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, until 1S42, when he re- 
turned to Lycoming county and purchased 
one hundred and twenty-seven acres of par- 
tially wild timber land in Wolf township, 
which he cleared, selling the wood and lum- 
ber and making a good farm. On that 
place he resided until the spring of 1874, 
his wife having died in October, 1871. His 
second union was celebrated December 10, 
1874, when he married Mrs. Jerusha Buck, 
widow of Daniel Buck, who was born in 
Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 2, 
1816, and who was by occupation a farmer 
and dealer in lumber and timber land. 

Daniel Buck was the son of Peter and 
Susannah (Holmes) Buck, the latter a 
daughter of John and Mary (Knott) Holmes. 
Peter Buck was the son of Henry and Cath- 
erine (Rotharmal) l>nrk. Daniel Buck 



married Jerusha Craft, born in Kenawah 
county, \'irginia, October 14, 1823, and a 
daughter of Samuel Craft, born June 3, 
1800, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, 
and who died March 8, 1872. By trade he 
was a miller, but followed the occupation 
of a farmer for many years. He was quite 
prominent in his county and served some 
years as constable and sheriff. He was the 
son of William Craft, who married Sarah 
Alward, whose mother was Priscilla Taylor, 
a native of England. Samuel Craft spent 
his entire life in Pennsylvania, with the e.\- 
ception of four years in Virginia, at the 
time Mrs. Gray was born. 

To Daniel and Jerusha Buck were born 
five children : (i) Alfred married Mary 
Josephine Simmons, by whom he had eight 
children, six of whom are living, Sarah E., 
Glenn, Cora, Flora B., Walter W. and 
Roy. He is engaged in farming on a por- 
tion of the old home farm on section 4. (2) 
Ellis was a member of Company B, Eighth 
Illinois Cavalry, and died at Harwood Hos- 
pital, Washington, D. "C, April 28, 1864, 
from typhoid fever. (3) Nesbitt died in 
i860, at the age of thirteen years. (4) 
George married Mary Flick and resides on 
section 5, a portion of his mother's farm. 
He is the present township assessor. (5) 
Charles died in infancy. 

In 1849 Daniel Buck came with his fam- 
ily to Dc Kail) county and located on sec- 
tion 4, Genoa township. Two years before 
he brought his family here he purchased 
four hundred acres of land, a part of which 
he afterwards sold, but from time to time 
purchased other tracts until his farm com- 
prised five hundred and twenty acres, to- 
gether with ten acres of timber. After a 
useful life he died March 3, 1873. 

After his second marriage Mr. Gray 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



483 



purchased a mountain tract and followed 
lumbering for some years. In 1882 he sold 
his Pennsylvania liorne and came to De 
Kalb county, Illinois, and has since been 
living upon the farm of his wife on section 
4. Although he has lived in the county 
comparatively a short time he is well known 
and highly respected. 



ALPHA J. COSTER, of Hinckley, Illi- 
nois, is a representative of the younger 
business men and farmers of De Kalb coun- 
ty. He owns and operates a farm of two 
hundred acres, a part of which lies within 
the village limits of Hinckley, Squaw Grove 
township. He is a native of De Kalb coun- 
ty, born on the old homestead, and in the 
house where he now resides, March 30, 
1865, and is the son of J. C. Coster, one of 
the honored old settlers and substantial 
men of the county, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this work. On the old farm 
he grew to manhood, and as his age per- 
mitted, assisted in the cultivation of the 
farm, and in farm work generally. His 
primary education was obtained in the pub- 
lic schools of Hinckley, and later he at- 
tended a seminary at Sugar Grove, Kane 
county. 

After completing his studies Mr. Coster 
resumed work upon the home farm, and as- 
sisted his father imtil he arrived at mature 
years. He was united in marriage at Hinck- 
ley, February 23, 1892, to Miss Effie May 
Sebree, a daughter of W. M. Sebree, one 
of the honored pioneers and now the oldest 
living resident of De Kalb county (see sketch 
of Mr. Sebree elsewhere in this work). Mrs. 
Coster was reared in Squaw Grove town- 
ship, and received her education in the 
schools of Hinckley and Aurora, Illinois. 



She took a thorough commercial course and 
training in Aurora, and was bookkeeper for 
the Hinckley Creamery Company for three 
years previous to her marriage 

After marriage Mr. Coster rented a por- 
tion of the old home farm, located there, 
and at once commenced life for himself. 
Three years later he purchased two hundred 
acres of the place, including the old home 
residence. In addition to general farm- 
ing he was engaged in the dairy business 
for eleven years, and, since 1895, has 
been engaged in running a milk wagon, sup- 
plying the people of Hinckley with milk, 
and has worked up a nice trade in this line. 

Mr. and Mrs. Coster have one son, Don- 
ald Redtield. In politics Mr. Coster has 
been a Republican since attaining his ma- 
jority. Office holding has no charm for 
him, but he has served one term as trustee 
of the village of Hinckley. Fraternally he 
is a Mason, holding membership with the 
blue lodge at Hinckley, the chapter at Sand- 
wich, and the commandery at Aurora, Illi- 
nois. He and his wife are charter mem- 
bers of the Eastern Star. Mr. Coster is 
past master of Hinckley lodge, while he is 
a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America. He is one of the most successful 
farmers in Squaw Grove township, and is a 
man of good business ability, sterling char- 
acter and worth, and he and his wife stand 
high socially in the community which has 
been tf-'cir home during their entire lives. 



DR. JOHN C. DAVID, physician and 
surgeon, Sandwich, Illinois, is well 
known throughout De Kalb and adjoining 
counties as a physician of acknowledged 
skill and ability. The world has little use 
for the misanthrope. The universal truth 



484 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of brotherhood is widely recof^nized, also 
that he serves God best who serves his fel- 
lowmen. There is no profession or line of 
bnsiness that calls for greater self-sacrifice 
or more devoted attention than the medical 
profession, and the successful physician is 
he who, throuf^h love of his fellovvnien, 
gives his time and attention to the relief of 
suffering humanity. 

Dr. David was born in Carbondale, 
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, December 
5, 1848, and is the son of James B. and 
Caroline (Snider) David, the former a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania and the latter of New 
York. The father was a mechanic and for 
some years was engaged in the tannery bus- 
iness and in the manufacture of carriages. 
He was a cjuiet, unassuming man, pleasant 
and affable, and had many warm friends by 
whom he was honored with various local 
offices, including sheriff of his county. Re- 
ligiously he was a Presbyterian. In i^S5 
he came to Newark, Kendall county, Illinois, 
with his family, and there resided a short 
time, then moved to a farm and later to 
Sandwich, Illinois, where his death occurred 
about 1 868, at the age of sixty-three years. 
His wife survived him for many years, dying 
when eighty-six years old. She was a great 
lover of home, reared a large family and 
was an excellent woman in every respect, 
her only desire being that she might be a 
mother in a (|uiet, happy home. She was 
a sweet-spirited woman, with an irresistible 
influence for all that was noble and good. 

To James B. and Caroline David ten 
children were born, one of whom, Emily, 
died at the age of four months. The others 
are all yet living : Dr. D. R. is engaged in 
the practice of dentistry at Sandwich, Illi- 
nois. Eudora is the widow of Norman 
Griswold, of Sandwich. Oliver is a me- 



chanic residing in Oliphant, PennsyK ania. 
.Almira is the widow of George Robinson 
and resides m California. Harriet is the 
widow of John Rice and resides in 
Buchanan, Michigan. Caroline is the wife 
of James Flood and resides in Michigan 
City, Indiana. liradford resides in Fulton, 
Whiteside count}', Illinois. Emma is the 
wife of Mr. Elson, and resides in Berrien 
Springs, Michigan. John C, our subject, 
completes the family. 

The subject of this sketch remained on 
the home farm until sixteen years of age, 
when he came to Sandwich, Illinois, which 
has since continued to be his home. He 
began to read medicine under Dr. Clark, of 
Sandwich, and later attended Hahnemann 
Medical College, at Chi':ago, an i was grad- 
uated in the t lass of 1876. For two years 
prior to his graduation, he engaged in jirac- 
tice, being called to the assistance of his 
preceptor, who was in ill health, and he 
was detained longer than he supposed was 
necessary, and therefore could not get away 
in order that he might complete his course. 
For some years he was engaged alone in 
practice, and then for four year-, was in 
partnership with Dr. Culver, and they en- 
gaged n practice under the firm name of 
David & Culver, but in 1898 the partner- 
ship was di solved, since which time he has 
been alone. 

Dr. Da\id was united in marr age i 1 
1892 with Miss Mae Stone, of Chicago, but 
from Syracuse, New \'ork. Her parents 
were English people. Both the Doctor and 
his wfe are members of the Congregational 
church. Fraternally he is a Mason, a mem- 
ber of the blue lodge, chapter and com- 
mandery, also of the Mystic Shrine, Chi- 
cago. In politics he is a Republican. As 
a physician he is well read and stands high 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



485 



in his profession. In his various relations 
of domestic, civil and professional life, his 
actions have been characterized by the same 
intelligence and cordiality, which have de- 
servedly gained for him a good name and a 
high position in the regard of his fe low cit- 
izens. 



JOHN W. BLEE, attorney and banker, 
and also president of the Western Snp- 
pl\" Company, ot Ottumwa, Iowa, resides in 
the city of Sandwich. Illinois. He was born 
in Montour county, Pennsylvania, Septem- 
ber 29, 1849, and is the son of Joseph M. 
and Euphemia H. (Sproule) Blee, both na- 
tives of Pennsylvania. By occupation he 
was a farmer in Pennsylvania, which occu- 
pation he continued after his settlement in 
Illinois, in 1854. On coming to the state he 
located in Wyoming township, Lee county, 
where he made his home during the remain- 
der of his life. His death was caused by an 
accident received in a runaway. Few men 
were better known throughout Lee and ad- 
joining counties. For many years he was 
an elder in the Presbyterian church. A 
friend of education, he was on the school 
board nearly all his life and had much to do 
with educational affairs in the neighborhood 
where he resided. A strong Democrat in 
his political views, he had great influence in 
the counsels of his party. He was in the 
convention that nominated Stephen A. 
Douglas for president in i860. He was 
very active in his way, was a fine conversa- 
tionalist and a great favorite with children. 
He was born March 12, 1818, and died Jan- 
uary 16, 1873. His widow is still living in 
Santa Anna, California, and was seventy- 
nine years old May 30, 1898. Her powers 
of body and mind are well preserved. She is 



a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church 
and has always been active in church and 
benevolent work. Her grandfather Sproule 
came to this country in 1770, as a young 
man, located in Pennsylvania, where he en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. He mar- 
ried Euphemia Marshall, a relative of Chief 
Justice Marshall. The maternal grandfather 
of our subject served in the war of the Rev- 
olution and from silver earned as a soldier 
he had a spoon manufactured, which is now 
in the possession of our subject and was 
made about 1787. Of the four children 
born to Joseph M. and Euphemia H. Blee, 
Teressa A. is the wife of W. C. Bryant and 
resides in Santa Anna, California. Charles 
M. resides in Los Angeles, California. 
James H. resides on the old home farm in 
Lee county, Illinois. John W. is the sub- 
ject of our sketch. 

On the home farm in Lee county, our 
subject spent his boyhood and youth. Dur- 
ing the war he offered his services to his 
country, but on account of his youth was 
rejected. In 1865 he entered the academy 
at Mendota, Illinois, where he spent three 
years in preparation for college. He then 
entered the University of Chicago, which he 
attended two years, after which he began 
teaching and doing newspaper work, at the 
same time pursuing his studies in civil 
engineering, which was the first professional 
studying he did. He followed engineering 
for one year under the city engineer of 
Chicago, and was later on the construction 
work of a railroad. On account of physical 
disability, he was compelled to abandon 
that profession, and in the spring of 1872 
began the study of law, entering the law de- 
partment of the University of Michigan, 
from which he was graduated in the class of 
1S74. He then applied and was admitted 



486 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to practice before the supreme court of 
Illinois, in June, 1874. The same year he 
engaged in practice in Chicago where he 
continued four years, then returned to his 
old home in Lee county, where he remained 
until 1880 engaged in active practice, and 
then opened an office in Earlville, Illinois, 
and the same year entered the service of 
the Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy Railroad 
as real estate and right-of-way attornej', con- 
tinuing with that road and others until 1892, 
when he was appointed special examiner 
and attorney for the department of the 
currency by Hon. James H. Eckels, 
who was comptroller of the currency 
under President Cleveland. His chief 
took the position a comparatively un- 
known man, but left it after the expiration 
of his four years term one of the best known 
financiers in the United States. He is now 
president of the Conmiercial National Bank, 
of Chicago. With Mr. Eckels, our subject 
served during his entire term, and traveled 
nearly one hundred and ninety thousand 
tniles by rail, visiting and looking after in- 
solvent banks, his work being largely in 
that line. 

Mr. Blee has never held an elective 
office, but made a very good canvass in 
1886, as the Democratic candidate for the 
state senate in the Nineteenth senatorial 
district against Hon. John D. Crabtree, and 
in 1890 was a candidate for congress in the 
Seventh Illinois district, against Hon. T. |. 
Henderson, of Princeton. He was defeated 
in both instances, as the districts were over- 
whelmingly Republican, but he made a good 
race, however. He has ever been acti\e as 
a campaigner, and in the councils of his 
party his views always command respect. 
He served as a delegate in every Democratic 
state convention from 1874 to 1S94, inclu- 



sive, and was a delegate to the Democratic 
national convention of 1884, and an alter- 
nate in the same-in 1888 and 1892. After 
entering the United States service he was 
not so active in political affairs, owing to 
his duties as a national administrative 
ofificer. His life work has been of a very 
diverse character, and he is now engaged in 
promoting some extensive railroad improve- 
ments and assisting in investments for New 
York and Chicago capitalists in the vicinity 
of Peoria, Illinois. 

Mr. Blee was united in marriage No- 
vember 17, 1887, with Miss Helen M. In- 
gersoU, daughter of Cornelius J. and Esther 
L. (Waterman) IngersoU, both of whom 
were natives of Oneida county. New York, 
but who were married at I^isbcn, Illinois, 
where they resided on a farm, until the 
father's death in 1867. Soon after the 
dealh of the father, the mother moved with 
her fainily to Sandwich, where she is jet 
li\ing, a devout and conscientious member 
of the Congregational church. Mrs. Blee's 
only sister is Harriet,, wife of I. M. Cooper, 
of Sandwich, while her eldest brother, E. 
I^. IngersoU. resides in Sandwich, and 
Charles at Fairbury, Nebraska, where he is 
engaged in the Rock Island Railway service. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Blee two children were 
born, twins, (ierald J. and Gladys li. 

Fraternally Mr. Blee is a Mason, hold- 
ing membership in the blue lodge, chapter 
and commandery, and also of the Mystic 
Shrine. He is likewise a member of the 
Knights of Pythias. While not members, 
he and his wife are attendants and active 
supporters of the Presbyterian church. .As 
a business man he possesse ■ superior quali- 
fications, and in the many positions in which 
he has been called to fill, he has exhibited 
an executi\e ability that justifies the confi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



487 



dence reposed in him. He is active and 
enthusiastic, a hard and zealous worker in 
what he undertakes, and is one of Sand- 
wich's most highly esteemed and valued 
citizens. He has one of the finest residences 
in Sandwich, and w.th a wife, who is a lady 
of culture and pleasing presence, and chil- 
dren who are the parents' joy and pride, it 
may be said that he has a model, happy 
home. 



JOHN D. ROBERTS, one of De Kalb 
county's highly prosperous and success- 
ful farmers, is the owner of over twelve 
hundred acres of valuable farm land in the 
township of Clinton, resides in the township 
of Afton, where he gives his personal atten- 
tion to the cultivation of eight hundred and 
thirty-two acres of choice farm property 
which is located on sections 30, 31 and 32, 
the property of his wife and her two sons. 
Mr. Roberts was born July 7, 1850, in 
the township of Sugar Grove, Kane county, 
Illinois, on what is now known as the Jones 
farm. The paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, Humphrey Roberts, Sr. , was a native 
Wales, and there married Mary Owens, and 
in 1832 came to the United States, settling 
in Oneida county. New York, where his 
death occurred in June, 1854. His wife 
survived some years, and died in Wyoming 
county. New York, December 28, 1867. 
They had a family of eight children, of 
whom Humphrey, the father of our subject, 
was the youngest. The latter was but nine 
years of age when he accompanied his par- 
ents across the water, and grew to man- 
hood in Oneida county. New York, remain- 
ing with his parents until after he reached 
his majority. He was married in Oneida 
county, January 7, 1846, and about one year 



later came west, locating in Sugar Grove 
township, Kane county, Illinois, where he 
followed farming for ten years. In 1857 he 
came to De Kalb county, and settled upon 
a quarter section of land in Clinton town- 
ship, which he had purchased some six years 
previously. For twenty-five years he re- 
mained upon that farm, then built a fine 
residence in Waterman, Illinois, and remov- 
ing to that village he lived a retired life. 
He was one of Illinois' highly esteemed citi- 
zens, a man who led an active life, and 
whose well known integrity and established 
reputation won for him the regard and con- 
fidence of all who knew him. During the 
Civil war he assisted the war department 
materially in securing recruits and organiz- 
ing companies, and his services in this re- 
spect won for him the recognition and praise 
of those in authority. He became a very 
prosperous man, and a large land owner, 
the village of Waterman being platted on 
land which he formerly owned. His death 
occurred in the village of Waterman in 
I 887. His wife was a Miss Catherine Jones, 
an estimable lady, a native of Oneida coun- 
ty. New York, and a daughter of William 
Jones, a leading business man of that coun- 
ty. She lived to a ripe old age, and died 
in 1S97, at her home in Waterman. 

The subject of this sketch came to De 
Kalb county with his parent.-^ and their 
family of six children. He was then a lad 
of nine years, and at the neighboring schools 
in the country he received his elementary 
education, which, judging from his success- 
ful life, he has made the best use. Farm- 
ing has been his life work, although about 
i87( he abandoned farm life and its duties 
for a time and engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness at Waterman, which he successfully 
conducted for two years. At the end of 



488 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



that time he sold out the lumber yard, and 
purchased a farm of three hundred and 
twenty acres in Clinton township, to which 
he removed and be^'an its cultivation. From 
time to time he added to his possessions, 
until he has now over twelve hundred acres 
in Clinton township, comprising five highly 
improved farms. He deals extensively in 
horses and cattle, and his excellent and dis- 
cerning judgment in this line has enabled him 
to build up a business of more than ordinary 
pretentions. 

On the 5th of January, 1895, ^'r- Rob- 
erts married Mrs. Belle Broughton, ncc 
Beers, the widow of Chauncey W. Brough- 
ton, and the daughter of Charles and Mary 
A. Beers. I^)y her first marriage she has 
two children, Charles !>., who is employed 
in one of the offices of Swift & Company of 
Chicago, and Chauncey W. , Jr., at home. 
On his marriage with Mrs. Broughton, he 
removed from Clinton to Afton township, to 
look after the farm property of his wife, 
amounting to eight hundred and thirty-two 
acres of excellent and well improved land. 
By a former marriage Mr. Roberts has two 
children. Wilder Humphery and Grace M. 
The former is engaged in farming and stock 
raising in Clinton township, while the latter 
is engaged in the millinery business in \V'a- 
terman. 

Mr. Roberts has all through life been an 
unflinching and stanch Republican, voting 
at all times for the nominee of the part}', 
national, state and county. He has never 
indicated his desire to hold ofiice, his many 
interests occupying his time and attention. 
However, by reason of his knowledge of \al- 
ues of both real and personal property, he 
was prevailed upon to serve as assessor (4 
his township a term of )ears and filled that 
position satisfactorily to all concerned, and 



has been school director for twenty-six years, 
and is still serving in that capacity. 

Mr. Roberts is in every respect a self- 
made man, and what he possesses is the di- 
rect result of hard work, persevering efforts, 
an indomitable will, a natural and inborn 
estimate of values, coupled with excellent 
judgment in mercantile and business affairs. 
Born in the neighboring county of Ivane, 
reared and living all his life in the county of 
De Kalb, Mr. Roberts has witnessed the 
various phases of transformation, which 
have converted the wild fields of prairie into 
that fertility and productiveness to be seen 
(jn every hand and has contributed his efforts 
tn brin" about that wonderful change. 



JOHN WATSON, who came to De Kalb 
county in February, 1857, and who for 
years was actively engaged in farming, is 
now living retired in the village of Shab- 
bona. He was born near Boyleston, Wor- 
cester county, Massachusetts, August 9, 
1833, and is the son of John Watson, Sr., 
also a native of Massachusetts, born in 
Princeton, and the grandson of Colonel 
Jacob Watson, a native of Scotland, who 
came to the United States a young man 
and who served as a colonel in the war of 
181 2. John Watson, Sr. , grew to manhood 
in Princeton, Massachusetts, and there 
learned the tanner and currier trade, but 
later engaged in the manufacture of lumber, 
a business which he carried on extensi\ely 
for some years. He was married in Prince- 
ton to Miss Harriet Esterbrook, also a na- 
tive of the Ba}' state. .\fter li\ing an active 
business life he was called to his reward in 
1842. He was a prominent man in \Vor- 
cester county, which he represented in the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



489 



legislature of his state for one term. His 
wife survived him some years. They had a 
family of four sons and three daughters, of 
whom our subject and one of his sisters, 
Mary A., wife of C. J. Parker, of Worces- 
ter, Massachusetts, are the only survivors. 
The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood in Worcester, Massachusetts, where 
he received a limited education. In his 
youth he learned the cutter's trade in a boot 
and shoe manufactory and followed that 
trade a number of years. He was foreman 
of the shop at Millbury, Massachusetts, for 
four years and had the entire charge of the 
cutting department. At Bolton, Massachu- 
setts, he engaged in the same trade for one 
year. In 1857 he came west and joined a 
brother, William Watson, who located in 
Shabbona township, De Kalb coimty, some 
two or three years previously. On his ar- 
rival he rented a farm in Shabbona town- 
ship and for five years was a renter, during 
which time he succeeded in accumulating a 
little money, and in i860 purchased one 
hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land 
on section 28, Milan township. He at 
once began its improvement and, as his 
means increased, added to the area of the 
farm until it comprised three hundred and 
twenty acres. He also accpiired another 
half section, which later he sold. For some 
years he engaged in buying and selling farm 
land, as the opportunity presented itself, in 
which he felt sure of a reasonable profit in 
the investment. He also engaged in buying 
and shipping stock, in which line of business 
he continued a few years. In 1881 he 
moved to the village of Shabbona, where he 
continued for a time to deal in stock and 
also to some extent in real estate. Since 
his removal to the village, in addition to his 
dwelling house, he has erected a large busi- 



ness house and hotel, which he still owns. 
In all probability he has done as much as 
any other man in improving and develop- 
ing the village, and has stimulated its 
industries by loaning money to various 
parties for building and other purposes. 

In October, 1856, Mr. Watson was 
united in marriage in Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, to Miss Emily E. Joslyn, a native 
of Connecticut, but reared m Worcester, 
Massachusetts, and a daughter of y\lbro 
Joslyn, who died when she was a child. 
By this union there are nine children: El- 
len E. is the wife of Wells F. Spencer, a 
farmer of Clinton township, De Kalb coun- 
ty. Charles 1^. is married, and is engaged 
in business in Rockford, Illinois. Martha 
J. is the wife of Walter Wilson, and they 
reside on the Watson farm in Milan town- 
ship. Mary is a well-educated lady, and is 
engaged in teaching in De Kalb count}'. 
Frank S. died at the age of twenty-one 
years; William at seventeen; Lillie A. at 
twenty; John A. at nineteen, and Flossie 
when two years old. 

Politically Mr. Watson was formerly 
identified with the Republican party, but 
for the past five years has been a sup- 
porter of the Prohibition party. In i8g6 
he was a delegate to the state convention 
at Springfield and was also a delegate to 
the convention at Peoria in 1898. By his 
fellow citizens he has been honored with 
various positions of honor and trust, serv- 
ing as school director for years and as 
township trustee six years while residing in 
the country. Since his removal to the vil- 
lage he has served on the village board for 
six years as trustee. He is well known 
throughout the county as a man of sterl- 
ing character, one in whom the people 
can trust. 



490 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



EDWARD F. LEDOYT, who is efficiently 
serving as postmaster of Sandwich. Illi- 
nois, traces his ancestry back several gen- 
erations, being a descendant of one of five 
brothers who came from France with La 
Fayette and served with him in the Revolu- 
tionary war, locating at its close in Holland. 
Massachusetts. His father is a descendant 
of the Webbers, one of whom was the first 
governor of \'irginia. On his mother's side 
he is from the Hamilton family, the re- 
nowned Alexander Hamilton being a rela- 
tive. 

Edward F. Ledoyt was born in De Kalb 
county, Illinois, June 30, 1864, and is the 
son of John and Louisa (Howe) Ledoyt, the 
former a native of Connecticut, and the lat- 
ter of Massachusetts. In 1858, the father 
with his family located on a farm north of 
Sandwich, and for some years was engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. He is now and has 
been for some years, foreman of the mold- 
ing department of the Sandwich Manufact- 
uring Company. Fraternally he is a mem- 
ber of the Illinois Mutual Aid Society, and 
religiously he is a Congregationalist, his 
wife being a member of the same church. 
Of their four children, our subject is the 
oldest. Emma Louisa is now the wife of 
C. M. Yeariey, a merchant residing in East 
Galesburg, Illinois. Everett J. is the man- 
ager of a store in Sandwich. Eva Ma}' is 
deputy postmistress at Sandwich. When 
our subject was but three years of age, he 
accompanied his parents to Milford, Massa- 
chusetts, and returned with them to Sand- 
wich three years later. In the public schools 
of Sandwich he received his education, and 
in his youth learned the trade of molder, 
which he followed four \ears. He then 
went into business, running a newsstand in 
the postoffice building, and under G. H. 



Robertson was made assistant postmaster, 
serving with him two years. On the retire- 
ment of Mr. Robertson, and the appoint- 
ment of Mr. Ja}Cox he was continued as as- 
sistant postmaster and served with him four 
years, during which time he continued his 
mercantile business. For six j'ears he was 
city clerk of Sandwich, and was thus engaged 
during the building of the electric light plant 
and the improvements made in paving the 
streets. On the 7th of February, 1898, he 
was appointed postmaster of Sandwich and 
took posession of the office, April i, 1S9S. 
For the transaction of the business of the 
office he has two assistants, Miss Evr, May 
Ledoyt and Winifred Haymond, two of the 
most accommodating and efficient assistants 
found in the state. 

In addition to the duties devolving upon 
him as postmaster, Mr. Ledoyt carries on a 
general bakerj- and restaurant, keeping a 
neat and attractive stock in a building of 
which he is the owner. Fraternally he is 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, but takes np specially active part 
in the work of his lodge. He has been act- 
ive in politics since attaining his majority, 
and was secretary of the Republican county 
central committee for six years, when he 
resigned. As a delegate he attends the 
various county and state conventions, and 
was among the number that attended the 
state convention in June. 1S98, with nomi- 
nated candidates for the various state offices. 
He was a delegate and voted for Joseph Fi- 
ler, when he was nominated for governor 
of Illinois. He is one of the busy, ener- 
getic men of the county, and is a man of 
rare ability, being public-spirited and lib- 
eral in his views and actions. He has done 
much toward the advancement of the com- 
munity in which he resides, and is justly rec- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



491 



ognized as a representative citizen. As 
postmaster he is accommodating and effi- 
cient, never giving the patrons of the office 
just cause for complaint. He impresses a 
stranger as a man of good business quahfi- 
cations, and in short the right man in the 
right place. 



THOMAS J. WRIGHT, banker and 
hardware merchant of Somonauk, Illi- 
nois, was born in Genesee county, New 
York, August 24, 1830, and is the son of 
Levi and Arathusa (Brigham) Wright, both 
of whom were natives of Vermont. By oc- 
cupation Levi Wright was a farmer, and 
gave almost his entire time and attention to 
farming interests, although he at times held 
office. In 1843, he came with his family to 
Illinois, and located in La Salle county, his 
farm, however, extending into De Kalb coun- 
ty. 'He bought a tract of government land, 
and also eighty acres which had been en- 
tered by another person. This land is now 
owned by the subject of this sketch. The 
Wright family lived in ihe Genesee river 
valley for a time, and later moved to Mon- 
roe county. New York, before coming west. 
He was a pioneer in this part of the state, 
and was a man of excellent business qualifi- 
cations, well known and highly respected 
among a large circle of friends. He served 
in the war of 18 12, and was taken prisoner, 
but never e.xchanged. For services ren- 
dered in that war he received a pension. 
After his removal to La Salle county, Illi- 
nois, he served as a member of the board 
of supervisors for more than fifteen years. 
His death occurred November 2, 1865, at 
the age of seventy-three years. He was 
twice married, and by his union with Ara- 
thusa Brigham, there were six children, as 

24 



follows: Charles S., a resident of Monroe 
county. New York; Stephen D., a retired 
farmer residing in Somonauk; Andrew J., 
who resides at Fort Dodge, Iowa; Clarissa, 
wife of George Bark, a farmer of De Kalb 
county; Louisa, wife of William Bark, of 
De Kalb county; and Thomas J., our sub- 
ject. His second marriage was with Esther 
Whitmore. By this marriage there were 
six children. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the farm, and attended the district schools 
both in New York and Illinois. He was but 
thirteen years old when he accompanied his 
parents to this state, and since that time 
his entire life has been spent here. He 
knows much of the hardships and depriva- 
tions incident to pioneer life. From 1843 
to 1880, he continued on the farm, and was 
a very successful farmer. In the latter year 
he removed to Somonauk, and commenced 
the banking business, which he has followed 
until the present time. While a private 
bank, it is organized with C. V. Stevens, as 
president; Thomas J. Wright, cashier; and 
W. H. Wright, assistant cashier. The first 
president was John Clark, and during his 
administration our subject was vice-presi- 
dent. On the death of Mr. Clark in 1891, 
the bank was re-organized, since which time 
Mr. Wright has been cashier. 

Mr. Wright was married in March, 1856, 
to Miss Lois M. Gage, a daughter of Alvarus 
and Eucla (Brigham) Gage. The former 
died in Somonauk, in 1887, at the age of 
eighty-four years. His wife died January 
26, 1898, at the age of ninety-two years. 
They were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church for many years. Mrs. 
Wright is the only survivor of their four 
children. To Mr. and Mrs. Wright four 
children have been born, as follows: (i) 



492 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Ellen D. is the wife of C. E. Hess, who 
resides in Somonauk. They have two chil- 
dren, Lucille and lone. (2) William H. is 
the assistant cashier of the bank at Somon- 
auk. He married Nettie Moore, who departed 
this life in 1889. He is also mayor of 
Somonauk, and was city clerk several years. 
(3) Edward resides on the home farm, which 
consists of three hundred and fifty acres. 
He married Anna M. Hunt, and has two 
children, Raymond and Ethel Orlean. (4) 
Clara is the wife of Frank Edgett, and they 
reside at Earlville, Illinois. They have one 
child, Paul Wright. 

Fraternally Mr. Wright is a member of 
the Masonic order, holding membership in 
blue lodge and chapter. In politics he is 
independent, voting for the men he con- 
siders best qualified to fill the various offices. 
For many years he was connected with the 
school board, and also town treasurer for 
four years continuously. He is quite active 
in public affairs, and takes a commendable 
interest in all matters affecting the welfare 
of his town and county. For several years 
he served as a member of the board of 
supervisors, and in every position held it is 
needless to say that he discharged the duties 
incumbent on him with his customary 
efficiency, thereby strengthening the already 
high regard universally entertained for him, 
by those.who knew him as an honest, upright 
and thorough-going business man, deservedly 
held high in esteem by all. 



HUGH McQUEEN, deceased, was for 
about thirty years a well known citi- 
zen of South Grove township. He was 
born in the lowlands of Scotland, about 
twelves miles from Ayr, the home of Robert 
Burns, July 29, i{<29, and was the son of 



Francis and Mary (McMillenl McQueen, 
both also natives of Scotland and who were 
the parents of two children, Hugh and 
Peter. When but three years old the fa- 
ther of our subject died, and when ten years 
old he commenced life for himself, working 
as a day laborer on farms, at which occupa- 
tion he continued for some years. Through 
the aid of friends he received a fair educa- 
tion and later became a well informed man. 
At the early age of eighteen years he was 
united in marriage June 7, 1847, '" Ayr- 
shire, to Jane McKenzie, a native of the 
same shire, born June 25, 1827, and the 
daughter of John and Ellen (Key) McKenzie, 
who were also natives of the same country, 
and the parents of si.\ children: John, Will- 
iam, Mary, Jane, Ellen and Isabella. To 
Mr. and Mrs. McQueen ten children were 
born, three of whom are deceased. The 
living are: John, Hugh, Jr., Mary, Ellen, 
|2nd) Frank, [ane and William A. The 
deceased are: Jane, Elizabeth and Ellen. 
For about twenty years after his mar- 
riage Mr. McQueen engaged in the brick 
and tile trade in his native countrs'. He 
then determined to come to America and 
in August. 1867, sailed with his family from 
Glasgow, and landed at New York. They 
at once came direct to De Kalb county, 
Illinois, where the parents of Mrs. McQueen 
had settled some years previously. After 
living upon rented land for about four years, 
Mr. McQueen purchased one hundred and 
sixty acres, and at once commenced life in 
earnest, improving the estate, and from 
time to time making additions to it, until 
he was the owner of four hundred and eighty 
acres of as tine land as any in De Kalb 
county. He was very successful in his 
farming operations, and for a time made a 
specialty of the raising of Shorthorn and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



493 



Durham cattle, and was ranked among the 
leading breeders in the county. He also 
engaged in breeding Berkshire hogs, and 
later the Poland-China variety. 

In politics he was a stanch Republican, 
with which party he acted from the time 
he became a naturalized citizen. In his 
native land he was a member of the Scotch 
Presbyterian church, but on coming to De 
Kalb county, united with the Congrega- 
tionalists. He was a deeply religious man, 
one of good qualities of both head and 
heart. His death occurred January 12, 
1S97, at the age of si.xty-eight years, and 
his remains were laid to rest in the cemetery 
in Malta township. His widow is yet liv- 
ing, and is also a member of the Congrega- 
tionalist church. Like her, husband she is 
held in the highest esteem. 



EDWIN L. FLEWELLIN, who came 
to De Kalb county in 1861, and who 
owns a valuable farm of two hundred and 
forty-three acres in Paw Paw township, is 
now living a retired life at Shabbona Grove. 
He is a native of Westchester county. Nevi' 
York, born March 11, 1835, and there grew 
to manhood, attending the common schools 
during the winter and assisting in cultivating 
the home farm during the summer months. 
He remained with his father on the home 
farm until he attained his majority. He 
was married in Westchester county, June 
4, 1856, to Miss Jane Creswell, a native of 
Glasgow, Scotland, who came to America 
when a young lady. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fle- 
wellin commenced their domestic life on a 
farm in Westchester county, and there re- 
mained a few years. In 1861 they came 
to De Kalb county, Illinois, where Mr. Fle- 



wellin purchased a partially improved farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres, and, mov- 
ing to the place, commenced its cultivation, 
and there resided a few years. Later he 
purchased eighty-three acres just across the 
road, and, moving to that farm, there re- 
sided until the death of his wife, who passed 
to her reward, February 15, i S96. He 
then turned the farm over to his son, and, 
moving to the village of Shabbona Grove, 
has since lived a retired life, enjoying the 
fruits of his former toil. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Flewellin seven chil- 
dren were born; Anna is the wife of Henry 
Mosely, a farmer of Thompson, Ohio. Rob- 
ert is a grain dealer and merchant residing 
in the village of Shabbona Grove. Isen re- 
sides in East Paw Paw, where he is engaged 
in farming. Jennie is the wife of Edwin 
George, of Leland, Illinois. Horace C. is 
in partnership with his brother in the mer- 
cantile business at Shabbona Grove. Es- 
tella is the wife of Charles Holmes, a 
farmer of Paw Paw township. Edwin L. 
is operating the old homestead. 

Politically Mr. Flewellin is a Republic- 
an, with which party he has been identified 
since attaining his majority. He was twen- 
ty-one years old the year in which the Re- , 
publican party made its first nomination for 
president, and cast his ballot for the nomi- 
nee. Office holding was never to his liking 
and he therefore never held any. The fam- 
ily are members of the Congregational 
church of Shabbona Grove, and all are 
highly esteemed for their worth's sake. 



WILLIAM T.MILLER, M.D., physician 
and surgeon, residing in Sandwich, Illi- 
nois, was born in Tioga county. New York, 
October 12, 1858, and is the son of Dr. J. 



494 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



J. and Catherine (DeCudres) Miller, both 
of whom are natives of New York. The 
father is still engaged in the practice of his 
profession at Amsterdam, New York. He 
takes little interest in politics, but acts with 
the Republican party. His birth occurred 
October 3, 1834, and he was united in mar 
riage with Catherine De Cudres, October 
26, 1854. She was born October 4, 1835, 
and died in 1882. Religiously she was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and was very active in church and Sunday- 
school work. She was also an active mem- 
ber of the Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union, and for some years was president of 
the local union. She was a woman of 
much literary ability and during the war was 
a contributor to the Atlantic Monthly. Her 
father, Marcus A. De Cudres, resides on 
Sherman avenue, Evanston, Illinois, at the 
advanced age of ninety-eight years. He is 
a prominent member of the First Methodist 
Episcopal church of that city, and is well 
preserved in body and mind. His wife died 
many years ago. Of their children, Lewis 
now resides in Pawnee City, Nebraska. 
During the Civil war he was a member of 
the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
the regiment that carried with them the 
eagle, "Old Abe". In the battle of Gettys- 
burg, he suffered the loss of an arm. Like 
other members of the family, he was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
For the past fifteen years he has been 
county clerk of Pawnee county, Nebraska, 
a position which he fills in a most satisfac- 
tory manner. Adolphus is a resident of 
Ellsworth, Kansas. Elizabeth is the wife of 
Rev. A. C. Smith, of the Wyoming, New 
York, conference, of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. Rosa died young. Powers 
and James died while serving their country 



in the Civil war. The latter died of dysen- 
tery in Tennessee, while Powers died from 
exposure while fighting the Indians on the 
plains. 

The paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, Andrew Miller, was born in Hamilton 
county, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1794. He 
was the son of Christian Miller, who emi- 
grated from Germany to Pennsylvania. The 
maternal great-great-grandfather came from 
France during the French revolution. He 
was a member of the aristocracy, and had 
to leave on account of the uprising of the 
common people. He was stowed away 
between bales of cotton, and thus saved 
himself from being a victim of the guillo- 
tine. 

The subject of this sketch was the only 
child of his parents and was reared in town 
and received his primary education in the 
public schools. He later attended Union 
College at Schenectady, New York, from 
which he was graduated in the class of '78. 
After graduating in the literary department 
he entered the medical department of the 
same college, from which he was graduated 
in 1 88 1. He then began practice at East 
.Albany, New York, where he remained some 
years, and in 1894 went to Berlin, Ger- 
mary, and took a special course of one 
year. From Germany he came to Sand- 
wich, where he has since continued, having 
built up an extensive practice. For ten 
years he was an officer on the board of 
health, while yet living in New York, and 
was local surgeon for the Susquehanna Rail- 
road for the same period of time. He was 
also demonstrator of physiology in the hos- 
pital school of nurses. New York. 

Dr. Miller was married June 28, 1895, 
in Berlin, Germany, to Miss Estrid Clem- 
ment, a daughter of Jordan P. and Anna 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



49S 



(Harnsleth) Clemment. Her father died 
December 3, 1895, in New York, at the 
age of fift\'-five years. Her mother is yet 
living in Aarhus, Denmark. They were the 
parents of three children — Ulrikka Dag- 
mar, Estrid and Carlos. Jordan P. Clem- 
ment was a glove manufacturer in Aarhus, 
Denmark, and the glove which takes his 
name has yet a wide sale and is one of the 
best known gloves in the market. 

Dr. Miller is a Mason, a member of 
Cobleskill Lodge, No. 394, A. F. & A. M., 
of New York, and of the chapter. No. 229. 
He was for some years worshipful master of 
the former and high priest of the latter. He 
is also a member of Temple Commandery, 
No. 14, in Albanj\ New York. For a time 
he was a member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, and is now a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America and Knights 
of the Globe, being examining physician in 
each order. In politics he is a Republican, 
and takes an active interest in political af- 
fairs. As a physician he ranks high in the 
profession, being a well read and successful 
practitioner. 



JAMES T. POWELL, who, after a long 
and busy life, is now living retired in 
the village of Somonauk, was born in 
Watertown, a suburb of Boston, Massachu- 
setts, October 17, 1823, and is the son of 
Howell and Mary Ann Powell, natives of 
Wales and England, respective!}', but who 
came to the United States early in the pres- 
ent century. While residing in the east the 
father engaged in gardening, but on coming 
west, in the fa 1 of 1837, he engaged in gen- 
eral farming, which occupation he continued 
during the remainder of his life, dying in 
his seventy-fifth year. On coming to Illi- 



no s he located in La Salle county, where 
he purchased government land, and in due 
time developed a fine farm. Both he and 
his wife were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and their house was a 
stopping place and home of the itinerant 
ministry. The family were known in a ra- 
dius of many miles and were of good report, 
such people as gave character to the pio- 
neer community of which they were an 
active and prominent part. For many 
years the good wife was an invalid. 

The subject of this sketch was the 
youngest of five children born to Howell 
and Mary Ann Powell, the others being 
Jane, who married Joshua Rhodes, both 
now being deceased; Mary Ann, who mar- 
ried Samuel Warner, and both are now de- 
ceased; William, who is engaged in garden- 
ing near Mendota, Illinois; and Eliza, who 
married Thomas Gransden, both now being 
deceased. 

On the home farm our subject grew to 
manhood, and from the fact that it was pio- 
neer times, and that schools were not plen- 
tiful, he received but little education within 
the walls of the school room. His sister 
Eliza taught the school in a log school- 
house for many years. In 1849, in a com- 
priny of twelve person.^, he crossed the 
plains to California, traveling with ox teams 
to Salt Lake, and then used pack mules the 
rest of the way. The)' liked the mules be- 
cause they went faster than the oxen, and 
it was therefore more satisfactory. They 
were four months on the way, and it can be 
well inferred that they experienced consid- 
erable hardships, although they met with 
no serious trouble. Two of their horses, 
however, were drowned in crossing Bear 
river; this was caused by trying to lead them 
across at the end of a lariat. When they 



496 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



reached the swift current their heads were 
pulled under, and before they could be re- 
leased they were drowned. Mr. Powell re- 
mained in California for nearly two years, 
and there engaged in mining, and did fairly 
well. Of the twelve men in the company 
crossing the plains, only three are now 
living, John Culmer, Edwin Breadsley and 
our subject. Mr. Powell was married in 
1852, to Miss Ann Stafford, a native of 
New York, and by this union are two chil- 
dren living, Ida and Ella, both remaining at 
home. The wife and children are members 
of the Congregational church at Somonauk, 
in which the\- take a li\el\' interest. Fra- 
ternally Mr. Powell is a Mason, holding 
membership with the blue lodge, chapter and 
commander}'. In politics he is a thorough 
going Republican, and has been identified 
with the party since its organization. On 
returning from California, Mr. Powell again 
engaged in farming, which occupation he 
followed until 1862, when he moved to 
Somonauk, and has there since continued 
to reside. He is a well known citizen of 
the place and has the respect and confidence 
of the entire communitv. 



THOMAS PARKER, who resides on sec- 
tions 5 and 8, De Kalb township, De 
Kalb county, Illinois, is a farmer who thor- 
oughly understands his business. He was 
born in Wethersfield, Vermont, December 
10, 1844, and is the son of James and Char- 
lotte (Carnes) Parker. The former was a 
native of New York, born June 10, 1819, 
and who died May 25, 1875. His wife was 
born in Vermont March 21, 1822, and died 
November 8, 1889. James Parker was the 
son of Thomas and Thankful Parker, the 
latter being born November 15, 1790, and 



who died January 18, 1865. The maternal 
grandmother, Persis Carnes, was born April 
20, 1787, and died December 16, 1830. The 
great-grandfather, Jehuel Whittemore, was 
born in 1763 and died December 31, 1847. 
His wife was Poll}' Higgins. 

James Parker was deprived of paternal 
aid when quite young and was compelled to 
work out by the month. In early life he 
moved to Vermont, where by his strict at- 
tention to the duties imposed upon him he 
soon won the confidence of his employers 
and in time became the head of a woolen 
factory. In commencing business he was 
first associated with his uncle, Enos Whitte- 
more, but soon purchased the latter's inter- 
est and carried it on alone. In those early 
days, before the establishment of almshouses, 
the poor were taken care of by the township, 
one man being appointed to take charge of 
them. This office was filled by him for 
three years, beginning with 1849. 

Later Mr. Parker removed to Illinois, 
locating in Mayfield township. He came 
by way of the lakes to Chicago, where he 
engaged a team to take him to his destina- 
tion in De Kalb county, where his uncle 
then resided. Soon afterwards he purchased 
eighty acres of partially improved land, 
which under his excellent management soon 
developed into a first-class farm. He was 
a very prominent man in his day and held 
the office of supervisor for a number of years 
and was school trustee of his township for 
several terms. A consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, he served as 
class leader for some years. His marriage 
with Charlotte Carnes was celebrated March 
4, 1841. Of their family of seven children 
six grew to maturity. 

Thomas Parker, our subject, was second 
of the seven children of James and Char- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



497 



lotte Parker. He was reared and edacated 
in Mayfield and Sycamore, and for a time 
engaged in teaching, but on account of his 
father's declining health, he was compelled 
to abandoned that profession, and give his 
attention to agricultural pursuits. In his 
twentieth year he purchased one hundred 
and sixty acres of land in its primitive state, 
and four years later purchased an additional 
eighty acres adjoining, which he worked to 
such an advantage as enabled him to meet 
his payments when due, and it was but a 
short time before his entire place was unin- 
cumbered. In 1898 he purchased a farm 
of twenty-one acres adjoining the city of De 
Kalb. 

On the 4th of February, 1871, Mr. 
Parker was united in marriage with Miss 
Clara A. Helmer, who was born in Herki- 
mer county. New York, February 20, 1851, 
and the daughter of Peter and Rosanna 
Helmer. Her father was the fourth son of 
Adam F. and Anna M. Helmer. Her great 
grandparents on her mother's side. Captain 
Henry and Catherme Harter, were taken 
prisoners in the French war of 1757. As 
the captives were crossing the St. Lawrence 
river in a birch bark canoe on their way to 
Canada, Mrs. Harter gave birth to a daugh- 
ter. In process of time this daughter was 
adopted by the Indians, and was afterwards 
the wife of General Michael Myers. Adam 
Helmer, the grandfather, served his country 
under Washington, in the dark days of the 
Revolutionary war. 

Mr. and Mrs. Parker commenced their 
domestic life upon the farm which he had 
purchased, and where they have since con- 
tinued to reside, each year adding to the 
improvements of the preceding year, mak- 
ing their farm one of the most desirable in 
the township. Mr. Parker is a practical 



farmer, believing in the utility of modern 
improvements, his farm being well supplied 
with all the latest improved machinery. 
He and his wife are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, in which he has 
been class leader for a number of years. 
For many years he was a member of the 
official board of the church, and has always 
taken great interest in its work. 



JAMES BANKS is a practical farmer re- 
siding on section 18, De Kalb township. 
He is a native of county Longford, Ireland, 
born in 1834, and is the son of Thomas and 
Bridget Banks, both of whom were natives 
of the Green Isle. Thomas Banks was a 
prosperous farmer in his native land, and 
with his wife there lived and died. His 
family consisted of eight children, of whom 
our subject was fourth in order of birth. 

James Banks was reared and educated 
in his native land, in the town of Ballenrue, 
county Longford, parish Cullmkill, where 
he remained until the age of nineteen, when, 
with a view of bettering his condition in life, 
he emigrated to this country, locating first 
in Orange county. New York, where he re- 
mained some three years. Hearing of the 
great west and its boundless opportunities 
for the honest tiller of the soil, he deter- 
mined on making a further journey, and in 
1856 we find him in South Grove township, 
De Kalb county, Illinois, where he worked 
for W. M. Byers for ten years, after which 
he purchased eighty acres of land, upon 
which he lived and worked for three years. 
That farm he sold and purchased another 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in De 
Kalb township, upon which some improve- 
ments had been made, which were very 
crude compared with those made by its 



498 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



present owner. He has built, tiled, fenced 
and planted until his place presents a very 
beautiful appearance. Good fortune has 
not always attended him, but in a main he 
has been prosperous. In 1880 he Iiad the 
misfortune to lose his barn by fire, sustain- 
ing thereby a great loss. 

In 1863 Mr. Banks was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Kate McNamara, a native 
of county Clare, Ireland, and a daughter of 
Dennis and Catherine McNamara, both of 
whom were natives of Ireland. By this 
union two children were born: Mary, in 
1865, and Thomas, in 1867. The family 
are strict Roman Catholics and are highly 
respected for their honesty and truthfulness, 
and whose characters are unimpeachable. 
Politically, Mr. Banks is a Democrat. 



TAMES HENRY HARMON, a retired 
*J farmer residing in Somonauk, is a native 
of De Kalb county, born in Somonauk town- 
ship, December 15, 1844, and is the son of 
Anthony and Elizabeth (Wilco.x) Harmon, 
the former a native of North Carolina and 
the latter of New York. The father came 
to De Kalb county in 1833, in his nineteenth 
year, and after coming here learned the 
trade of blacksmith, which occupation he 
followed in connection with farming and 
plowmaking during the remainder of his 
life. He was a man of much mechanical 
genius and a very useful man in the neigh- 
borhood. He was capable of making 
almost everything in demand on the farm 
or in the town. On coming to De Kalb 
county he drove an ox team for his father, 
killing game in abundance while on the way. 
His father took up a quarter-section of gov- 
ernment land and at once began to make a 
home for the family. He lived in the tim- 



ber, cutting and splitting rails with which to 
fence his farm. Few men were better 
known in the southern part of De Kalb 
count}- than Anthony Harmon, especially 
during pioneer times. Learning to manu- 
facture plows, he supplied the neighborhood 
and farmers would often come to his shop 
from a distance of ten miles or more, start- 
ing at three o'clock in the morning in order 
to be the first in town to get their work 
done. His death occurred December 18, 
1892, when seventy-seven years of age. 
For some years prior to his death he did no 
work, only that he might accommodate 
some good neighbor. He was once elected 
supervisor, when not aware that his name 
was even proposed for the office, but refused 
to serve, as office holding was not to his 
taste. While not a member of any church, 
he helped with his means to build all the 
churches in his town. His widow is still 
living in her seventy-seventh year. She is 
in good health and in the enjoyment of life, 
as much so as could be expected in one of 
her years. Formerly a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal chijrch, she later united 
with the Baptist church, with which body 
she is now connected. Of the six children 
born to Anthony and Elizabeth Harmon, 
three died in early life: Hattie, Eleanor 
and one unnamed. The living are Amos 
W. , James H. and George C. Amos \\'. 
first married Miss Rose, by whom he had 
three children: William Ellsworth, Luella 
and John. She died at the age of thirty- 
eight years; and by his second marriage he 
has two children, Nora and Herbert. George 
C. resides in the township of Victor on a 
farm. He married Margaret George, by 
whom he has six children: Anthony, Elea- 
nor, Charles, Edith, Rachel and Minnie. 
The subject of this sketch was reared on 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



499 



the farm, and received his education in the 
common schools. At the age of twenty- 
one years, he commenced farming for him- 
self, and that was his occupation until 
within the past five years, since which time 
he has been engaged exclusively in buying 
stock, a business that he has followed more 
or less for twenty-five years, purchasing 
both cattle and hogs for the eastern mar- 
kets. He still owns the farm, one and a 
half miles north of Somonauk, consisting of 
two hundred and forty acres, which is well 
improved in every respect. On the farm he 
runs a dairy, keeping about seventeen head 
head of milch cows. 

Mr. Harmon was married January 17, 
1865, to Miss Margaret Cain, a daughter of 
John and Mary Cain, both of whom were 
natives of Ireland, and who came to the 
United States in 1842, locating first in New 
York, from which state they removed to De 
Kalb county, Illinois, in 1856. Here the 
father died in 1864, at the age of about 
seventy years. His wife is still living at the 
advanced age of ninety-four years. They 
were the parents of six children as follows: 
Samuel, who resides in the town of York, 
Nebraska; John, residing in Sandwich, Illi- 
nois; Eliza, who died in November, 1897, 
at the age of fifty-eight years; Margaret, 
wife of our subject; James, who resides on 
a farm near the United Presbyterian church 
in Somonauk township; and Joseph, who 
also resides on a farm in Somonauk town- 
ship. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Harmon three children 
have been born. Emma Augusta died in 
1880, at the age of twelve years. Elmer 
J., who married Miss Louisa Shaffman, re- 
sides on the old homestead. Edgar B. is 
in the employ of Carson, Pirie, Scott & 
Company, Chicago, with whom he has been 



engaged for the past four years. Mr. Har- 
mon is recognized as one of the most 
prominent farmers in De Kalb county, and 
as a citizen he is progressive and honorable 
arid enjoys the high regard of his fellow 
men. 



MAJOR F. BLISS, one of the enterpris- 
ing farmers of Somonauk township, 
was born in Bristol, Massachusetts, Novem- 
ber 6, 1837, and is the son of Otis and 
Charlotte (Dennis) Bliss, the former a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, born January 20, 
1802, and who died September 30, 1840. 
The latter was a native of Massachusetts, 
born June 22, 181 i, and died June 10, i8g8. 
Her parents were Major and Eunice Dennis, 
who came to this state in 1842, from Mas- 
sachusetts, and here spent the remainder of 
their lives, both dying at an advanced age. 
Otis Bliss and Charlotte Dennis were mar- 
ried March 30, 1828, and after residing in 
the east some twelve years, came to De 
Kalb county, in 1840, where he entered 
government land, the patent to which is yet 
in possession of our subject. It is signed 
by President James K. Polk, and was given 
in 1845. The tract comprised one hundred 
and sixty acres, in addition to which he pur- 
chased a few acres of timber, which all felt 
that they must have. After residing here a 
few months he was taken with typhoid fever, 
from which he never recovered, his death 
taking place September 30, 1840. On lo- 
cating here neighbors were few and far be- 
tween. Otis and Charlotte Bliss were the 
parents of five children. Charlotte married 
Clement Brook, and died in Jasper county, 
Iowa, May 24, 1863, leaving a large family. 
She was born February 10, 1849. Fidelia 
K. , born November 21, 1830, married Myr- 



500 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lin Carpenter, of Sandwich, Illinois, and 
died April 21, 1892, leaving four children. 
Lorena D. , born October 14, 1832, mar- 
ried Samuel Orr, October 8, 1856. She re- 
sides in Sandwich, Illinois. William O., 
born February 13, 1835, is a retired farmer 
residing in Sandwich. Major F., our sub- 
ject, is fifth in order of birth. 

After the death of her husband, the 
mother of our subject married Thomas 
Brook, who was born November 21, 1791, 
and who served his country in the second 
war with Great Britain. By this second 
union she was the mother of four children 
as follows: Hannah W., born February 2 1 , 
1842, is a widow, and now resides in Santa 
Cruz, California. Jacob D., born June 3, 
1844, is a resident of Pelton, California. 
Lucio, born July 16, 1848, died September 
8, 1852. Lucius E., born May 22, 1851, 
died August 17, 1875. 

Major F. Bliss, our subject, was reared 
on a farm, and has devoted almost his en- 
tire life to agricultural pursuits. He came 
west with the family in 1840, and is there- 
fore one of the pioneers of the county. He 
has a very distinct recollection of the early 
days, and remembers when they attended 
church with o.\-teams, religious services be- 
ing held in the school-house. His father's 
house was the usual stopping place of all 
traveling ministers of the gospel. Our sub- 
ject began life for himself in 1856, but made 
his first purchase of land in i860. He is 
now one of the oldest farmers in the south- 
ern portion of the county. 

Mr. Bliss was united in marriage August 
21, 1862, with Miss Lydia Potter, a native 
of Illinois, and a daughter of Darius and 
Susan Potter, from New York state. By 
this union were six children. Hattie F. 
married F. H. Merwin, by whom she has 



five children — Dwight, Paul, Ellen, Francis 
and Dorothy. They reside on the east side 
of Somonauk. Elmer F. is a resident of 
Lincoln, Nebraska. Alma F. is the wife of 
A. G. Merwin, and they reside in the village 
of Somonauk. Herbert died in 1878 at the 
age of four years, four months and fourteen 
days. Guy L. is taking a course at Kno.\- 
College, Galesburg, Illinois. Lucia L., of 
the home circle, completes the family. 

Mrs. Bliss is a member of the Baptist 
church. Politically Mr. Bliss is independ- 
ent, voting for the man rather than the par- 
ty. In 1881 Mr. Bliss was president of the 
Somonauk Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 
a private institution, which confines its bus- 
iness to Somonauk township. It has been 
in existence for twent3'-two years, and has 
been very successfully and economically 
managed, affording a very low rate of insur- 
ance to the citizens of the township. He 
has been elected constable for the third time 
and is now filling that office. His farm of 
eighty acres of well improved land adjoins 
the corporate limits of Somonauk on the 
north. He devotes himself to both grain 
and stock farming, and has upon his place 
a good orchard, and small fruits of all kinds. 
For nearly sixty years he has resided in the 
vicinity of Somonauk, and it was thirteen 
years after he located here that the railroad 
was built. 



JOHN M. BLAIR has a fine farm of 
<J three hundred and forty-five acres on 
section 7, Milan township, where his birth 
occurred July 7, 1859. He is a son of Will- 
iam Blair, a native of Scotland, born in 
1824, and who there grew to manhood, 
coming from thence to the United States in 
1851, locating first in Kane county and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



501 



about eight years later moving to Ue Kaib 
county, where he purchased the land on 
which our subject now resides. On that 
place he lived until 1887, giving his atten- 
tion to its proper cultivation and then mov- 
ing to the village of Malta, where he is now 
living a retired life. He was married in 
St. Charles, Illinois, to Mary McNeal, also 
a native of Scotland, and they became the 
parents of three sons and three daughters, 
as follows : Robert is a contractor and 
builder residing in De Kalb, Illinois. John 
M. is the subject of this review. Mary J. 
is the wife of James Morehead, of Malta 
township. Alice D. is the wife of W. H. 
Morehead, of Chicago. W. D. is engaged 
in the commission business at Chicago. 
Edith is the wife of Frank McQueen, of 
South Grove, Illinois. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the farm where he now resides, received 
his primary education in the common 
schools and later attended the Malta High 
School. He remained with his father until 
after, he attained his majority and in Malta 
township, December 18, 1884, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Cora J. Kemp- 
son, a native of De Kalb county, and a 
daughter of Thomas Kempson, one of its 
pioneers. After their marriage they com- 
menced their domestic life on the Blair 
farm, of which he took complete charge. 
In 1892 he purchased the Milan creamery, 
which he operated until April, 1898, and 
then rented the plant to the Spring Brook 
Creamery Company. In connection with 
general farming he has been engaged in 
breeding and raising fine stock. He has 
also fed and fattened for market a large 
immber of hogs and sheep, each year. 

Politically Mr. Blair is a Republican, with 
which party he has acted since attaining 



his majorit)'. He was elected and served 
as assessor one term, and was then elected 
township trustee and re-elected, serving si.x 
consecutive years. In the spring of 1898 
he was re-elected assessor for a term of two 
years. For twelve years he has been a 
member of the school board, of which he 
has served as district clerk for the entire 
time. 

Mr. and Mrs. Blair have four children — 
Bessie Edith, Robert Ennis, Glenn Doug- 
las and Cora May. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are 
members of the Congregational church at 
Malta, in which he is serving as trustee. 
They take an active interest in the church 
work and assist in maintaining a Sunday- 
school in their neighborhood. Fraternally 
Mr. Blair is a member of Malta lodge. No. 
606, I. O. O. F., and has passed all the 
chairs, being now past grand of his lodge; 
is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, 
Wayside lodge, at Malta. He has resided 
in De Kalb county all his life, and has en- 
deavored to do faithfulh' every duty im- 
posed upon him, and by his friends and 
neighbors he is held in the highest esteem. 



JOHN W. ARNOLD has a well improved 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres 
on section 14, Paw Paw township. He is a 
native of De Kalb county, born in Victor 
township, September 4, 1857, and is the 
son of Edward Arnold, a native of Eng- 
land, born in 1722, and who there grew to 
manhood, and in Lincolnshire, England, 
married Mary Tinsley, a native of that 
shire. With his bride he emigrated to the 
New World, about 1841, and came direct 
to Illinois, and settled first at Batavia, Kane 
county, and there resided several years, and 
later came to De Kalb county, locating in 



502 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Victor township, where he opened up a farm. 
When gold was discovered in California, he 
went overland to the New Eldorado, and 
there spent about eleven years in the mines. 
During that time, however, he came home 
and spent about six months. He was fairly 
successful in his mining operations, but re- 
turning to the old place in Victor township, 
he engaged in farming for several years. 
He subsequently removed to Iowa, and set- 
tled in Woodbury county, and there en- 
gaged in the milling business and there he 
now resides. 

John W. Arnold grew to manhood in 
Victor township, and was educated in the 
common schools, together with two winters 
at the Somonauk High School. He re- 
mained on the home farm and assisted in its 
cultivation until he was twenty-five }ears of 
age. On the 22nd of April, 1882, he mar- 
ried Anna M. Harper, a native of Paw Paw 
township, born on the farm where she now 
resides. She is a daughter of Robert Har- 
per, one of the early settlers of De Kalb 
county. Four children were born of their 
union — Ross H., Ralph D., Robert Y., and 
Alice. After his marriage, Mr. Arnold 
rented a farm in Victor township, on which 
he resided two years, and then purchased a 
farm of eighty acres, which he cultivated 
for four years, then rented his present farm 
for two years. Selling his farm in Victor 
township he purchased the Robert Harper 
farm, and has here since continued to re- 
side, actively engaged in general farming in 
connection with stock-raising, feeding and 
fattening for the market from one to two 
carloads of hogs annually. He is recog- 
nized as one of the successful farmers and 
stock feeders of the township. 

Politically Mr. Arnold is a Republican, 
but as a temperance man he is a firm be- 



liever in the principles of prohibition. In- 
terested in the cause of education, he is 
now serving his third term as a member of 
the school board, and is its [present presi- 
dent. A well-known citizen of De Kalb 
county, he is held in the highest esteem by 
those who know him. 



PROF. WARREN HUBBARD, principal 
of the Somonauk schools, Somonauk, 
Illinois, was born in De Kalb county, 
October 20, i860, and is the son of Lorenzo 
and Mary (Wright) Hubbard, natives of 
Maine and New York, respectively. Lo- 
renzo Hubbard came west about 1855, lo- 
cated on a farm in Victor township, De 
Kalb county, but removed to Northville 
township, La Salle count\- in 1881, and has 
made farming his life work. He came west 
a young man, married here, and reared his 
family. In his township he has been quite 
prominent and has held a number of minor 
offices. He is still living at the age of si.xty- 
two years. Both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Congregational church, in which 
body he is an officer. The subject of this 
sketch is the oldest of their four children. 
Walter L. is a farmer residing in De Kalb 
county. He married Miss Kate Keyes, and 
they have one child, Jennie. Mary A. died 
in infancy. Lorenzo M. resides at home 
and assists in the management of the home 
farm. Prof. Hubbard was reared on the 
farm, and for some years assisted in its cul- 
tivation. His primary education was ob- 
tained in the public schools, but he later 
attended Jennings Seminary, at Aurora, 
Illinois, and had the benefit of the instruc- 
tion of Dr. Martin E. Cady and other 
well known teachers. He began teaching 
when quite young, in the district schools 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



503 



during the winter months, and assisted 
in the farm work in summer. As a 
professional teacher, he began first at 
Sandwich, where he was principal of the 
high school, 1890-91, being engaged to fill 
a vacancy. That position he resigned in 
order to accept the principalship of the 
Somonauk schools. He has now filled the 
position for seven years, and has given a 
most excellent degree of satisfaction. The 
schools have a prescribed course, and four 
teachers are employed in addition to Prof. 
Hubbard, who teaches in the high school. 
The present school board are S. E. Beel- 
man, president; H. F. Hess, secretary; and 
H. E. White. 

Prof. Hubbard was married January i, 
1884, to Miss Rosa Rehm, a native of De 
Kalb county. Mrs. Hubbard is the old- 
est of three children. John, her oldest 
brother, married Miss Harriet Gletty, and 
they reside in Iowa, where he is engaged in 
farming. George, her youngest brother, re- 
sides in Somonauk. To Prof, and Mrs. 
Hubbard have been born two daughters, 
Mary Grace and Helen B. They have also 
an adopted son, Bert. 

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard are 
Congregationalists, having membership in 
the Congregational church at Somonauk, in 
which he is serving as one of the deacons. 
He is also superintendent of the Sunday 
school, which has a membership of about 
one hundred and twenty. Fraternally he 
is a member of Somonauk Lodge, No. 646, 
A. F. & A. M., of Sandwich Chapter, No. 
107, R. A. M., and also of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, being escort in the 
latter body. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Eastern Star, in which Mrs. 
Hubbard holds the position of warder. In 
politics the Professor is thoroughly independ- 



ent. As an educator he has done and is still 
doing excellent work. He is a good organiz- 
er, has much aptness as a teacher, and his 
services are appreciated by parents, pupils 
and patrons of the school. The public 
school principal is one of the important 
factors in civic life. The position needs 
brains, courage and an all around develop- 
ment. The authorities of the Somonauk 
school are to be congratulated for keeping 
the right man in the right place. 



JAMES M. SKINNER, a retired farmer 
living in Somonauk, was born in Craw- 
ford county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 
1843, and is the son of I. H. and Pollie Ann 
(Dickson) Skinner, the former a native of 
New Jersey and the latter of Pennsylvania. 
In his boyhood the father accompanied his 
parents from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, 
where he engaged in farming, and a little 
later moved to Ohio, but returned to Penn- 
sylvania, and from there, in June, 1844, 
came to Illinois and located in La Salle 
county. On his arrival in La Salle county 
he purchased a tract of government land, 
opened up a farm, which he retained until 
shortly before his death, when he sold to his 
youngest son, Joseph, who, in 1897, sold to 
his older brother, George A., who still re- 
tains the home place. In 1881 the father 
retired from active work and removed to 
Somonauk, where his death occurred in 
1887, when about eighty years old. His 
wife survived him some five years, dying in 
1892 at the age of eighty-one years. They 
were originally members of the Protestant 
Methodist church, but later in life united 
with the Congregational church. The 
brothers and sisters of I. H. Skinner were 
Reuben, John, Cornehus, Jesse, Mary, Eliza, 



504 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and a sister who was drowned in the Sus- 
quehanna river. Of these, Jesse died 
when quite joung, while the other brothers 
hved to be about eighty years old. Of the 
sisters, Eliza married Aaron Fox. The par- 
ents of Pollie Ann Skinner were George and 
Fannie Dickson, who came from Pennsyl- 
vania to Illinois, in 1844, about the same 
time the Skinners came. They were the 
parents of James, Robert, Joseph, Jane, 
Kezian, Pollie Ann and Sallie, all of whom 
are deceased e.xcept Joseph, who resides in 
Sandwich, Illinois. 

I. H. and Pollie Ann Skinner were the 
parents of eleven children, of whom si.x are 
yet living, while two died in early childhood. 
The living are George Anson, who resides 
in La Salle county, where he is engaged in 
farming; Thomas, a farmer residing in Ida 
county, Iowa; Eldridge, who served in the 
war for the Union, and is now a retired 
farmer residing in Sandwich; James M.. the 
subject of this sketch; Mary Ann, wife of 
William Corke, living on a farm in La Salle 
county; and Joseph, a farmer residing in 
Taylor county, Iowa. Of the deceased, 
Robert enlisted in May, 1861, in the Thir- 
teenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served 
under Grant at Vicksburg, and was mortally 
wounded by a minie ball in battle at Ring- 
gold Gap, Georgia, and, after living nine 
days, passed away. His father was with 
him when he died, had the body embalmed 
at Nashville, and brought it to Northville 
township, La Salle county, and had it in- 
terred in the cemetery where other mem- 
bers of the family lie buried. He was 
wounded and taken prisoner on the first 
charge at Vicksburg, was paroled, and re- 
turned home. After being exchanged he 
rejoined his regiment, and was with it but a 
short time when stricken down. His age 



at the time of death was twenty-six years. 
Howell, another son, died at the same age. 
John W. died at the age of eighteen years. 
Two children. Perry and Cynthia A., died 
in infancv. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the farm, and remained with his parents 
until February, 1865, when he enlisted in 
Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and did guard 
duty in east Tennessee, also at Memphis, 
Tennessee, and later in Georgia. He was 
discharged at Memphis, September 25. 
1865. He stood the service very well, was 
never wounded or taken prisoner. The war 
closing, he returned to his farm, and en- 
gaged in farming on the shares, but later 
purchased and still owns a farm of two hun- 
dred and forty acres, in Northville town- 
ship, La Salle county, a farm which is 
under a high state of cultivation, well im- 
proved in every way, and which is devoted 
to stock and grain purposes. At present it 
is rented, his tenant keeping a number of 
cows and sending the milk to the dairy. 

Mr. Skinner has been twice married, 
first January 25, 1872, to Miss Mary Fox, a 
daughter of J. M. Fox. She was a devoted 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and died September 19, 1880, at the age of 
twenty-eight years. On the 2d of March, 
1893, Mr. Skinner married Mrs. Altha 
Wright, widow of Carter E. Wright, who 
served his country in the war for the union, 
enlisting in 1862, in Company H, One 
Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry. He died January 20, 1890, at the 
age of forty-nine years. 

Mrs. Skinner was the daughter of Levi 
Wright, and was sixth in a family of seven 
children. Martha died at the age of four- 
teen years. Mary is the widow of Lorenzo 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



505 



Hubbard. William F. served in Company 
K, Forty-second Regiment, Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry, enlisting in May, 1861. He 
now resides n Somonauk. fohn H. en- 
listed in May, 1861, in the Thirteenth Regi- 
ment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served 
with honor for three years, then re-enlisted 
in the One Hundredth and Fifty-Sixth Regi- 
ment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He died 
unmarried, January 18, 1893, at the age of 
forty-nine years. George M. D. resides in 
Somonauk, Illinois. James E. is a drug- 
gist residing in Genesee, Illinois. Mrs. 
Skinner's father, Levi Wright, served in the 
war of 1812, and her paternal grandfather, 
Steven Wright, in the Revolutionary war. 
Her first marriage was in 1867, to Carter 
E. Wright, who was also a soldier in the 
war for the union, and who died in 1890. 

Mrs. Skinner is a Daughter of the Revo- 
lution, and was a daughter of a soldier of 
the war of 18 12, was the wife of a soldier 
of the late war, and is now the wife of one 
who participated in the war for the union. 
She also had two brothers in that war, and 
is to-day president of the Woman's Relief 
Corps, and also a member of the Eastern 
Star. Fraternally Mr. Skinner is a mem- 
ber of Carter E. Wright Post, No. 772, G. 
A. R. , of Somonauk, of which he is now 
serving as adjutant. He is a good business 
man, takes an interest in all the enterprises 
of the community, and is one of De Kalb 
county's worthy and valued citizens. 
Politically he is a Republican. 



ENOCH P. ROWLEY, of Waterman, 
has been a resident of De Kalb county 
since 1869 ^.nd of the slate since 1857. 
He is a native of New York, born in Ren- 
sselaer county, April 18, 1827. The Row- 



leys are of English descent, the first of the 
name originally settling in New York. 
Da\id Rowley, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in Dutchess county. New 
York, and moved to Rensselaer county, 
when the county was little better than a 
wilderness. There he made his home in 
the forest from which he cut the timber, 
cultivated the ground and reared his family. 
Ashbel Rowley was the son of David Row- 
ley, and the father of our subject. He was 
reared in Rensselaer county, and in the 
second war with Great Britain served his 
country as a member of one of the New 
York regiments. He married in Renssel- 
aer county, Miss Betsy Tryon, a native of 
New York, born near the Hudson river. 
In 1856, he came west with his family, and 
settled near Kaneville, Kane county, where 
he spent the last years of his life, dying at 
the residence of one of his children, Novem- 
ber 16, 1864. His wife died February 20, 
1863. 

In his native county, Enoch P. Rowley 
grew to manhood, spending his boyhood 
and youth on the farm. In early life he 
learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, 
and followed the business for a few years. 
He was married December 8, 1855, to Miss 
Joanna Marvin, who was born and reared 
in Rensselaer county, and a daughter of 
Peter D. Marvin, a member of one of the 
old-time families of that county. By this 
union there were nine children, seven of 
whom are yet living. Willis A., a con- 
iractorand builder, resides in Waterman. 
George W. resides in De Kalb, where he 
is engaged in contracting and building. 
James L. , also a contractor and builder, re- 
sides in Waterman. Sidney is an engineer, 
but in his youth learned the carpenter's 
trade. Charlotte E. is the wife of Ira Kirk- 



5o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



patrick, of Chicago. Frances Isabella is 
the wife of Harry Bradbury, a merchant 
and postmaster at Waterman. Julia A. is 
the wife of John Arnold, a farmer of Cal- 
houn county, Iowa. Marvin E. died in in- 
fancy, and Grant M. died at the age of 
eight years, by a stroke of lightning. 

In 1857, Mr. Rowley came to Illinois, 
and located near Kaneville, Kane county, 
joining his father, who had previously re- 
moved to that place. He there followed 
contracting and building for si.\ years, then 
engaged in farming in Sugar Grove town- 
ship for about live years, then went to the 
village of Sugar Grove, built a shop and 
residence, and there resided for nearly a 
year, then sold out and went to Kaneville, 
where he engaged in farming for six months. 
In 1869 he came to De Kalb county, and 
for two years leased his brother's farm near 
Waterman, after which he purchased a 
place of sixty-five acres in Clinton township, 
to which he later added seventy-five acres 
more, and then an additional forty, making 
a fine farm of one hundred and eighty 
acres. That land he cultivated for some 
years, then sold off one hundred acres, and 
purchased a farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres adjoining. Later he sold off 
eighty acres, and after remaining on that 
farm four years longer, he sold and moved 
to Waterman, where he purchased four 
residence lots, and built on three of the lots 
neat and substantial residences. Two of 
these he afterwards sold, but purchased 
other residence lots and built more houses, 
adding greatly to the appearance of Water- 
man. 

In March, 1898, Mr. Rowley purchased 
a stock of groceries and has since been en- 
gaged in the grocery business at Waterman. 
Since the organization of the Republican 



parly, he has advocated its principles and 
voted that party ticket. He was elected 
one of the highway commissioners of 
Clinton township and served six years, and 
during that entire time, served as treasurer 
of the board. He also served on the board 
of trustees in his township, and has been 
street commissioner in Waterman. Frater- 
nally he is a Mason, holding membership in 
the blue lodge at Waterman, and the chap- 
ter at De Kalb. For eight years he served 
as worshipful master of the Waterman lodge. 
He and his wife are members of the Eastern 
Star lodge. Well known in De Kalb and 
Kane counties, Mr. Rowley has a host of 
friends in each. 



FRANK R. SCOTT, who is engaged in 
farming on section 22, Genoa town- 
ship, was born on the farm north of the one 
where he now resides, in November, 1863. 
His father, \\'illiam Scott, was a native of 
New York, born October 15, 1826, and 
who came west in 1850, locating in De Kalb 
county. He married Harriet Beebe, in 
Genoa, also a native of New York, born 
January 9, 1827, and a daughter of William 
Beebe. They became the parents of five 
children, of whom three are yet living. 
Sarah married Isaiah Siglin. Emma Jane 
married Charles Tauglen, who died, and 
afterwards she married Charles Deardruff. 
Frank R. is the subject of this sketch. By 
trade William Scott was a mason, but made 
farming his principal business during the 
greater part of his life. He died on his farm 
in Genoa township, June 30, 1869. His 
parents lived to an advanced age, his mother 
dying when seventy-five years old, and 
his father at the age of ninety-seven 
j'ears. 



THK BIOGRAPHICAL RECORi: 



^o; 



Frank R. Scott was reared on the farm, 
and attended the district school until the 
age of sixteen years, attending principally in 
the winter months. He began life for himself, 
however, when fifteen years old, and worked 
out for neighboring farmers for three years. 
When eighteen years he began farming for 
himself, and continued to be thus engaged 
until the fall of 1891, when he went to 
Chicago, and was employed as a teamster 
one year. He was then a street car con- 
ductor two years, at which time he came 
back to Genoa, and was janitor of the school 
house for two years. In 1896, he returned 
to the farm, where he has since continued to 
reside. 

Mr. Scott was married in Sycamore, 
January 6, 1887, to Miss Catherine Bald- 
win, born in Hopewell township, Mercer 
county. New Jersey, and first in a family of 
five children born to Moses and Henrietta 
(Lowe) Baldwin, the latter being a daughter 
of Abraham and Catherine (Craft) Lowe. 
Moses Baldwin was born in Hopewell town- 
ship, Mercer county. New Jersey, September 
19, 1840, and is the son of John Baldwin, a 
farmer of Mercer county. New Jersey, who 
married Esther Abbott, a daughter of 
Joseph and Mary (Danbury) Abbott. John 
Baldwin was the son of Moses and Mary 
(Beaks) Baldwin. In his native township, 
Moses Baldwin grew to manhood, and on 
the 22nd of December, 1862, enlisted in 
Company A, Third New Jersey Cavalry, and 
served about three years. He was in the 
seven days battle in the Wilderness, was 
at Spottsylvania Courthouse, Chickahominy 
river, siege of Petersburg, twenty-one 
days in the Shenandoah Valley, and in the 
battle at Winchester had three ribs broken 
and his skull bone broken at the same time. 
He was sent to the field hospital at Harper's 

25 



Ferry, and from, there to hospitals in 
Washington, Port Tobacco and Poolville, 
Maryland. He was mustered out at 
Washington, and discharged at Trenton, 
New Jersey, August 2, 1865. He then 
resided in Trenton until 1884, engaged in 
his trade of shoemaker, and then came to 
Genoa, De Kalb county, Illinois, where he 
has since continued to reside. 

•To our subject and wife five children 
have been born- — Minard R., Phila A., 
Lewis F., Henrietta, and Beth B. In 
politics Mr. Scott is a Republican, having 
voted that party ticket since attaining his 
majority. He is now serving as school 
director in his district. 



CHARLES H. WHITE, postmaster of 
Somonauk and a retired farmer, was 
born in De Kalb county, July 2, 1859, and 
is the son of Thomas and Ann Eliza (Tucker") 
White, the father a native of Washington 
county. New York, born February 15, 181 5. 
By trade he was a shoemaker and followed 
that occupation while residing in the east. 
In the spring of 1856 he came west and 
rented one hundred and sixty acres on sec- 
tion 9, Somonauk township, and in 1859 
purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 29. He there continued 
to reside during the remainder of his life, 
dying on the homestead, February 18, 1882. 
He was a hard worker, well and favorably 
known, had hosts of friends, was successful 
in business, and was of a disposition to make 
and keep friends. His wife was born in 
Washington county. New York, June 28, 
181 5. She was the only daughter in a 
family of ten children, one brother, Will- 
iam, now residing in Jo Daviess county, 
being the only survivor of that large family. 



5o8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



She was a tnember of the United Presbyte- 
rian church of Somonauk and was of a 
quiet, retiring disposition, making much of 
home and home surroundings. She was 
the mother of ten children, our subject 
being the youngest of the family. Will- 
iam, Julia and James died while the family 
yet resided in Washington county. New 
York. Puella married John A. Armstrong, 
but is now deceased. Her only child, Car- 
rie A. Armstrong, was assistant postmaster 
of Somonauk for three years. She is now 
at Colorado Springs, Colorado. Robert 
died March 7, i8<So, when about thirty 3'ears 
of age. He married Emily Manly, of Jo 
Daviess county, Illinois, who only lived si.x 
months after their marriage. Emily A. 
married W. J. Randies, of Clinton town- 
ship, De I'Calb county, Illinois. She died 
February 17, 1888, at the age of thirty- 
seven years, leaving four children, Mattie 
J., Leroy, Andrew and Anna. Martha and 
Mary were twins, the latter died when two 
years of age. Martha resides with her broth- 
ers, Charles H. and Hampton E. Hamp- 
ton E. is a farmer and auctioneer, residing 
one mile north of Somonauk. He married 
Margaret E. Henrj', and their children are 
Mary, Henry, William, Robert, Nettie and 
Eugene. 

Our subject was born and reared on the 
farm on section 29, and his education was 
obtained in the common schools of the dis- 
trict and in the village of Somonauk. 
After leaving school he continued to assist 
his father on the farm, and after the latter's 
death he remained on the farm until he 
commenced business for himself, in 1885. 
In June of that year he had the finest lot 
of shorthorn Durham of any one in this 
section of the state. His health failing 
him, he was required to leave the farm. 



and this to him was a sore trial, for the 
reason that he had been successful in the 
breeding of cattle and had become well 
known throughout the entire state. On leav- 
ing the farm he made the following announce- 
ment: "Owing to poor health I have 
rented my farm, and, therefore, will be 
obliged to sell at public auction my entire 
herd of forty-five thoroughbred shorthorn 
cattle. It is with deep regret that I offer 
this herd for sale that I have worked so 
faithfully to establish. It has been my aim 
to breed good, useful cattle, which would be 
profitable to the general farmer and breeder. 
This herd was exhibited in La Salle, Ken- 
dall, Kane and De Kalb counties, and never 
failed to carry off first honors, in compe- 
tition with other shorthorns, Herefords and 
polled Angus cattle." 

On the 29th of February, 1892, Mr. 
White moved to Somonauk, where for two 
seasons he was engaged with John Betz in 
canvassing and selling agricultural imple- 
ments. On the 17th of October, 1893, he 
was commissioned postmaster of Somonauk 
and took charge of the office in December 
of the same year after having erected a new 
building and fitting it up for the purpose. 
The office is said to be one of the best fourth 
class postoffices on the line of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Ouincy Railroad. His first 
assistant was Miss Carrie Armstrong, who 
remained with him three years. Frank 
Girodat, who remained in the ofSce one 
year and was succeeded b}' Miss Bulah 
Jones, who is now serving. At the close of 
his term a circular was distributed for his 
retention in office, and it was signed by 
nearly every patron of the office without 
reference to politics. 

Mr. White was married January 3, 1883, 
to Miss Cornelia M. Marshall, a daughter 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



509 



of James and Jeannette (Richey) Marshall, 
the latter being a daughter of Judge R. W. 
Richey, of Henderson comity, Illinois. 
James Marshall was a native of South Caro- 
lina, born near Charleston and came with 
his parents, Alexander and Mary (McMillen) 
Marshall, to Henderson county, Illinois, 
where they located on a farm. He was 
born June 8, 1824, and died October 2, 
1896. By occupation he was a farmer, and 
religiously he and his wife were members of 
the United Presbyterian church. She was 
born July 24, 1829, and yet resides on the 
home farm. Her brothers were Thomas 
G. and James H., while her sisters were 
Ann M. and Mary E. The former married 
John A. Marshall. The latter is a teacher 
in the public schools and has an excellent 
reputation as such. 

Judge Richey held the office of count}- 
judge of Henderson county for seventeen 
years. The county was strongly Repub- 
lican, and he a pronounced Democrat, but 
not an offensive one. He retained the office 
until failing health admonished him that he 
must give way and do less work. James A. 
Marshall, the father of Mrs. White, was one 
of seven children — Robert, Daniel, John, 
James A., Jane, Hugh and William. All 
are living with the exception of William and 
James A. 

Mrs. White is one of eleven children, as 
follows: Viola M., wife of J. W. McClin- 
ton, residing in South Henderson, Illinois; 
James W. , who died at the age of nineteen 
years; Mary H., wife of W. A. Speers, re- 
siding in Stronghurst. Illinois; Elizabeth, 
wife of Cecil McArthur, residing in South 
Henderson, Illinois; Cornelia M., wife of 
our subject; Louisa J., who died at the age 
of three years; Charles R. , who resides 
near the old home and owning part of the 



Marshall estate; John D., a farmer and stock 
raiser residing near Walton, Kansas; Flor- 
ence V. , who died at the age of twenty-seven 
years; Thomas, residing at home; and Hugh, 
residing at Stronghurst, where he is reading 
medicine. 

To Mr. and Mrs. White two children 
have been born, Emma J. and Thomas M. 
The parents are members of the United 
Presbyterian church. Mr. White is a mem- 
ber of the Modern Woodmen of America, 
and is president of the Home Forum, at 
Somonauk. 

Mr. White still owns the old homestead 
on section 29, Somonauk township, together 
with a neat and homelike residence in the 
village and also the brick building in which 
the postoffice is kept. In connection with 
his postal work, he runs a stationery store 
and news depot. On the 17th of October, 
1895, he met with quite a loss by fire, hav- 
ing three barns, valued at two thousand five 
hundred dollars, together with a lot of grain, 
destroyed. The buildings have all been re- 
placed and the farm is in excellent condi- 
tion. The cause of the fire is unknown, 
but presumed to have been spontaneous 
combustion. It was a close call for the 
house, which would have been consumed 
had it not been for friends and good neigh- 
bors, to whose kindness he has always felt 
grateful. 



CW. FALT2, editor and proprietor of 
the Reveille, Somonauk, is a native 
of the village, born January 14, 1870, and 
is the son of Adolph and Bertha (Buser) 
Faltz, the former a native of Nassau, Ger- 
many, and the latter born near Barsal, 
Switzerland. The father who was born 
December 14, 1831, came a single man to 



5io 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



America in 1852, and settled in New York 
city where he remained sixteen years, be- 
fore taking up his residence in Somonaiik, 
Illinois. He left his native land on a sail- 
ing vessel, and was thirty-four days on the 
water. His mother and two of his broth- 
ers, Fred and Henry, came with him. 
Henry died in New York city when about 
fifty -seven years old, but Fred yet resides 
in Somonauk at the age of about seventy- 
four years. He was the first of the family 
to move to Somonauk, having spent but 
two years in New York. By trade Adolph 
Faltz was a carpenter and also a painter. 
He married Bertha Buser, December 24, 
1 86 1. She came across the water with her 
parents, John and Fannie Buser. Her 
father was a mechanic and inventor. One 
of his inventions was a numbering machine 
which was very valuable. More than forty 
models of his inventions are now on file at 
the patent office in Washington. He had a 
wonderful mechanical genius and worked in 
wood and all metals. His death occurred 
in New York when nearly seventy-four 
years old. In religion he and his wife were 
Lutherans. Her death occurred many 
years prior to that of her husband, when 
she was about forty-eight years of age. 
She was one of eight children, as follows: 
Nataline, who is unmarried and residing in 
New York city; Bertha, the mother of our 
our subject; Fannie, the wife of Isaac Stil- 
well, residing. in New York city; Fred, re- 
siding in New York city; Albert, also resid- 
ing in the same city; Emma, who died when 
about twenty-five years old; Julia, wife of 
Martin Beam; and Mary, who is now de- 
ceased. 

The paternal grandfather, Conrad Faltz, 
lived and died in the old country, his death 
occurring when the father of our subject 



was but one year old. He was forty-eight 
years old at the time of his death. Mrs. 
Bertha A. Faltz was born May 25, 1838. 
She is a member of the Baptist church, 
while tier husband is a member of the 
Lutheran church. They are the parents 
of five children. Fannie is a trained 
nurse, a graduate of the W. C. T. U. hos- 
pital of Chicago. She resides in Evans- 
ton, and is employed by the Women 
Club of that city. Hattie yet resides at 
home. Charles W. is the subject of this 
sketch. Albert Henry and Ada May yet 
reside at home. The latter is a graduate 
of the Somonauk High School and is pre- 
paring for a teacher. 

Our subject was reared in Somonauk 
and graduated from the high school at the 
age of sixteen j'ears. He learned the print- 
ing trade in Somonauk and later went to 
Rockford, Illinois, and subsequently to El- 
gin, Illinois, to get a more extensive knowl- 
edge of the business. At Rockford he was 
employed in the ofiice of the Daily Gazelle, 
and at Elgin was first with the Cook Pub- 
lishing Company and later in the Dailj' 
News office, after which he was foreman of 
the Democrat. In January, 1892, he re- 
turned to Somonauk and purchased the 
office of the Reveille, being at that time 
the youngest publisher and proprietor of a 
newspaper within a radius of many miles. 
He was then just past twenty-one years of 
age. In the publication of the paper he 
has met with good success, while in the 
job line he is well prepared to do all kinds 
of printing in a most satisfactory manner. 

Mr. Faltz was married August 20, 1S90, 
to Miss Maria Py, a daughter of Sylvan and 
Mary (Henry) Py, the former a native of 
France and a farmer by occupation, who 
came to America with his father, Ferdinand 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



511 



Py, who located near Portsmouth, Ohio. 
He had one sister, Adella, who married 
August Barlow, who died many years since. 
The family came across the water in a sail- 
ing vessel, having a very stormy passage 
and being sixty-three days on the water. 
Ferdinand Py died from injuries received in 
a runaway. Sylvan Py lived with his par- 
ents after his marriage and they all came to 
Lee county, Illinois, in 1S62, soon after the 
marriage was celebrated. In Lee county 
Sylvan Py engaged in farming, which occu- 
pation he continued until his death in 1872, 
at the age of thirty-one years. He left five 
children. The eldest son was born in Lee 
county March 19, 1S63. He married Miss 
Josie Ryan, of Amboy, Illinois, July 23, 
1888, and died November 12, 1894, leaving 
two children. May Catherine and Francis 
Albert. By occupation he was a farmer. 
Eugene A. is a traveling salesman and re- 
sides in West Brooklyn, Lee county, Illi- 
nois. Eliza married Henry F. Gehant, a 
banker of West Brooklyn, Illinois, and they 
have four children, Oliver, Julian, Henry 
and an infant. Clementine died at the age 
of four years. Mrs. Faltz was next in order 
of birth. Mary Adella married Charles R. 
Frank and they have four children, Flor- 
ence I., Irwin J., Claudius W. and Percy 
E. The mother of these children died Jan- 
uary 31, 1890. She was born in France 
January i, 1844, and accompanied her par- 
ents to America in 1850, and with them 
settled near Portsmouth, Ohio. After the 
death of her husband she remained on the 
farm in Lee county, but in 1875 married 
Claude Gehant, of Bradford, Lee county, 
Illinois. They became the parents of six 
children — Clementine, Edward, Louise, 
Josie, Victoria and Margaret. Of these 
Josie died at the age of nine years and 



Clementine is now the wife of Alfred 
McRae and they have one child, Gladys. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Faltz two children 
have been born, Harold A. and Gladys L. 
The latter, who was born April 22, 1892, 
died January, 1893. Religiously Mrs. 
Faltz is a Catholic. Fraternally Mr. Faltz 
is a member of the Knights of the Globe 
and Home Forum Benefit order at Somo- 
nauk. In politics he is a Democrat and 
takes an active interest in political affairs, 
being a frequent delegate to county con- 
ventions. Personally he is a man of genial 
nature and generous impulses and has a 
large circle of friends and acquaintances, 
who hold him in the highest regard. 



WILLIAM HOYT, deceased, was one 
of the highly esteemed citizens of De 
Kalb township, a man true to the principles 
which he professed, not only in letter but 
in spirit. He believed in and carried out 
the golden rule all through his life. While 
he was a strong adherent of the Democratic 
party, he was never a partisan, but carefully 
read both sides of every question, giving 
credit where credit was due. Not only was 
he a close observer, but a deep thinker, and 
had a remarkable memory. He was born 
at Schenectady, Herkimer county, New 
York, July 4, 1826, and was the son of 
Louis S. and Almira Hoyt, both natives of 
New York state, the former born August 21, 
1798, and the latter July 18, 1801. 

Louis S. Hoyt came to De Kalb county 
in November, 1850, locating on section 5, 
De Kalb township, where he purchased a 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres with 
some improvements. He further improved 
the place and on that farm passed the re- 
mainder of his life in peace and happiness. 



512 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



He and his wife were members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, in which he was a 
steward. He was quite philanthopically dis- 
posed, and in the earh' settlement of the 
county, when educational facilities were 
limited, he, tof;ether with a Mr. Moore, 
erected a school house with their own means 
and presented it to the district. Louis S. 
and Almira Hoyt were the parents of the 
following named children: Esther?., born 
October 13, 1824; William, July 4, 1826; 
Maltbie, May 6, 1830; Julia, July 29, 1831: 
Louis, April 7, 1834; Erskine, August 28, 
1838; Susan G., April 12, 1840; and Hiram, 
November 22. 1843. 

William Hoyt grew to manhood in his 
native county, and on the 6th of January, 
1 85 I, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Lydia Wolfe, a daughter of Benjamin and 
Susan ^^'olfe, and in July of the same year 
they removed to Sycamore, De Kalb coun- 
ty, Illinois, where they remained one year. 
In 1 85 3 they removed to Michigan, where 
Mr. Hoyt engaged in the lumber business 
for eight years, and where, by his industry 
and enterprise, he accumulated considerable 
property. In 1861 they returned to De 
Kalb county and located on their farm in 
De Kalb township, where they remained 
until September, 1887, when they went to 
Chicago, that their children might have 
better school advantages, and especially to 
allow their younger son, Frank, an oppor- 
tunity to tit himself for the bar. From 
Chicago they returned to their farm in 1891. 

Mr. Hoyt was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and was conscientious in 
all his dealings with his fellowmen. He 
died September 3, 1894, aged sixty- eight 
years, and his death was mourned not alone 
by his family, but by a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances. His widow, who was 



born at Union, Luzerne county, Pennsyl- 
vania, yet survives him at the age of sixty- 
five years. Their family consisted of the 
following named children: Sarah A., born 
December 14, 1851, died November 20, 
1854; Laura A., born September 18, 1853. 
died January 25, 1861; Esther M., born 
August 27, 1857, died December 23, 1863; 
Benjamin L. , born July 6, 1859; Frank W., 
December 24, 1864; and Susan E., August 
19, 1 87 I. 

Benjamin L. Hoyt has devoted his en- 
tire life to agricultural pursuits and is a man 
who thoroughly understands his business. 
He was united in marriage December 19, 
i88r2, with Miss Sarah Jane Scott, a daugh- 
ter of Mary and William Scott. They have 
now three children — Frankie L. , Sadie M., 
and Esther P. 

Susan E., the youngest daughter, is a 
graduate of one of Chicago's best schools, 
and for a time engaged in teaching. She is 
a first-class musician and has given lessons 
in music with credit to herself and former 
teachers. On the 15th of May, 1S94, she 
married James H. Scott, a worthy farmer, 
by whom she has one daughter, Lydia M. 

Frank is a prominent attorney in Chicago 
who has met with good success in his chosen 
profession. After receiving his elementary 
education in the common schools he entered 
Wells College to fit himself for the position 
of teacher, and after the completion of his 
course taught school for two years. He 
then entered Union College of Law, in Chi- 
cago, from which he was graduated in 1889 
with high honors. In the same year he was 
admitted to the bar. On March 17, 1891, 
he married Miss Elizabeth P. Pritchard, 
daughter of William and Prudence Pritchard, 
and to them two children have been born, 
William P. and Benjamin. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



513 



JOHN MORRISON, now living a retired 
life in the village of Waterman, was for 
years one of the snbstantial farmers of De 
Kalb county, of which he has been a resi- 
dent since 1856. He is a native of Scot- 
land, born in Perthshire, March 11, 18 19, 
and is the son of William and Margaret 
(Coventry) Morrison, both of whom were 
natives of the same shire. In his native 
land our subject grew to manhood, and 
was educated in the private schools. The 
possibilities of the United States had been 
presented to him in his youth, and he de- 
termined on emigrating to the New World, 
with a view of bettering his condition in 
life. In 1 84 1, accompanied by his brother 
Robert, he set sail and landing in New 
York, there resided for about ten years. 

1852, Mr. Morrison came to the conclu- 
sion that he could do still better by moving 
west and that year he came to Illinois and lo- 
cated near Batavia, Kane county, where he 
had charge of the farm of Mr. Hoyt, a 
banker of Batavia. While residing there 
his parents, who had been furnished the 
means by their sons, John and Robert, also 
came from Scotland, and joined their chil- 
dren, residing with them and being cared 
for by them during the remainder of their 
lives. The father died at the age of eighty- 
eight years, and the mother when ninety- 
two years old. 

In 1856, our subject came to De Kalb 
county and purchased a tract of land in Vic- 
tor township, of which about twenty-five 
acres had been broken, and partially im- 
proved. With the aid of two carpenters, 
he erected a small frame house in one day 
and a half, into which he moved with his 
family, and there resided while further de- 
veloping the farm. Later he built a more 
substantial residence and barn, together 



with outbuildings, tiled the place, set out 
an orchard, and also forest and ornamental 
trees, and in due time had one of the most 
valuable farms in Victor township. 

In February, 1852, just previous to his 
leaving New York, in Schenectady county, 
that state, Mr. Morrison was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Jane McGue, a native of 
New York, and a daughter of James McGue, 
a substantial farmer of that county, of 
Scotch parentage. There were two chil- 
dren by this marriage, Agnes- and William. 
The former is now the wife of William Nel- 
son, a worthy farmer of Victor township. 

William Morrison, the son, was born in 
Kane county and reared in De Kalb, receiv- 
ing his education in the public schools of 
the latter county. He married Miss Emma 
Higby, who was born and reared in Ottawa, 
Illinois, and a daughter of Mr. Higby, of 
Ottawa. They became the parents of three 
children, Ella, John and Willa. After his 
marriage he located on and took charge of 
the home farm, and was a successful farmer 
uutil his death, the result of an accident in 
November, 1888, by falling some twenty- 
eight feet from a haymow. He was a man 
of most exemplary habits, of upright char- 
acter and worth, and in his death the aged 
father and loving wife met with a great loss, 
but had the heartfelt sympathy of a host of 
friends. 

After the death of his son, John Morrison 
with his daughter-in-law remained on the 
farm and continued its cultivation until 1894, 
when he rented the place and they moved 
to Waterman, where they now reside. Pol- 
itically Mr. Morrison has been a Republican 
since the organization of the party, but 
never desired, nor would he accept office. 
He is a member of the Somonauk United 
Presbyterian church, of which his wife, who 



514 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



died January i, 1888, was also a member. 
His faith in the doctrines and teachings of 
that church is steadfast and strong. Mrs. 
William Morrison is a member of the Wa- 
terman Presbyteriau church. In the forty- 
si,\ years in which he has been a resident of 
De Kalb county Mr. iilorrison has witnessed 
some wonderful changes, and in its growth 
and development he has materially assisted. 
Success has in a measure crowned his 
efforts, and he is now enabled to live re- 
tired, enjoying the well earned rest secured 
by a long life of earnest toil. 



JOHN B. L.^ BOLLE is a retired farmer 
residing in Somonauk. He was born in 
Serena township, La Salle county, Illinois, 
September 14, 1857, and is the son of Aug- 
ustine and Julia (Ferry) La Bolle, both 
natives of Alsace, Germany. By occupa- 
tion Augustine La Bolle was a farmer, both 
in the old country and after his removal to 
America. He came to the United States 
in 1855, and was on the water sixty-eight 
days, meeting with some severe storms and 
the vessel having a collision with another 
one. After the collision they went to Cork, 
Ireland, the nearest repair station, and were 
there six weeks. They started from Havre, 
France, and landed in New York. After 
remaining a few days in the latter city, they 
came west to Ottawa, Illinois, which was 
their destination on starting. On arriving 
at Ottawa the father engaged work in a 
factory, where he remained a few months, 
then rented a farm and engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits. Later he purchased a quarter- 
section which he afterwards sold. He died 
at the age of fifty years. He and his wife 
were members of the Catholic church. The 
latter is yet living at the age of seventy-six 



years and makes her home with our subject. 
They were the parents of five children, as 
follows; Mary, wife of Michael Carpenter, 
residing in Maple Park, Illinois; John B., 
our subject; Charles A., residing on a farm 
south of Somonauk; Joseph L. . living on a 
farm near De Kalb; and Ellen, wife of George 
Decker, residing at West Pullman, Illinois. 
On the home farm or subject grew to 
manhood and in the common schools of the 
neighborhood received his education. As 
soon as able he was set to work, and from 
that time on assisted in the cultivation of 
the farm. He was married December 7, 
1880, to Miss Mary G. Mailander, a daughter 
of Conrad and Margueritta Mailander, na- 
tives of Germany, but who were married in 
this country. Conrad Mailander came to 
the United States in 1849, and his wife in 
1850. She came with her parents, Mathias 
and Catherine Kuhlen, who settled in Long 
Grove, Kendall county. Mathias Kuhlen 
followed farming all his life. He was born 
in 1789, and died many years ago when 
about seventy years old. His wife Cather- 
ine was born June 9, 1791, and died at the 
advanced age of ninety-eight years, nine 
months and eight days. Both died in the 
faith of the Catholic church. They had six 
children, the oldest, Elizabeth, dying at an 
early age, before the family left Prussia. 
John was born in 1824, and served in the 
Ci\il war. He came home on a furlough, 
and eight days after his return to the army 
was instantly killed in one of the battles of 
the Atlanta campaign. Christian, born in 
1827, died in Prussia in 1849. Margueritta, 
born March 1, 1831, was married to Conrad 
Mailander, in 185 1, at Napervilie, Illinois. 
Charles Joseph, born in 1841, enlisted in 
Company K, One Hundred and Twenty- 
seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



515 



mustered into the United States service 
September 6, 1862, the regiment being 
commanded by Colonel Van Arman. He 
was taken sick, died, and was buried in 
Georgia about a week before his brother 
John returned to the regiment. Henry, 
born January i, 1834, died January 5, 1896. 

Mrs. Mailander is the only survivor of 
that family. Conrad Mailander's parents 
were Henry and Mary Mailander, the latter 
dying when he was but two years of age. 
He was born August 26, 1822. Henry Mail- 
ander came to the United States in 1849, 
lived here a few years and returned to his 
native land, where his death occurred about 
1858, when he was nearly eighty years of 
age. He had five children on coming to 
America, as follows: Peter, who died in 
Prussia; Peter William, who came to Peru, 
Illinois, in 1847, and there died; Mary, who 
married Henry Scmidt, died in Prussia; 
William, who lives in La Salle county, Illi- 
nois; and Conrad, the father-in-law of our 
subject. 

To Conrad and Margueritta Mailander 
eight children were born, as follows: Henry, 
born March 10, 1852; Charles, born July 18, 
1854; Caroline, now Mrs. Eugene Mathis, 
born March i, 1856; Mary, born March 29, 
1858; Louisa, now Mrs. Alfred Sower, born 
January 2, 1861; William, born February 
22, 1864; Maggie, now Mrs. Christian Stein- 
worth, born March 18, 1868; and Anna C, 
now Mrs. William Buckler, born February 
22, 1870. The parents are yet living and 
make their home in Somonauk. 

Mr. and Mrs. La Bolle are the parents 
of three children — William C, Ruby L. and 
Luella C. They are members of the Cath- 
olic church. Mr. La Bolle takes little inter- 
est in politics. He was formerly a Repub- 
lican, but is now a Prohibitionist. The fam- 



ily reside in a most handsome home on the 
south side of De Kalb street. Mr. La Bolle 
also owns another residence adjoining and 
both are in good repair and nicely shaded. 
As a farmer he has been a splendid success. 
For several years, in addition to his farm 
labor, he ran a threshing machine and did 
very much in that line. As a carpenter, a 
trade which he picked up from time to time, 
he has furnished plans and specifications for 
many of the buildings of Somonauk and sur- 
rounding country. He is pleasant and genial 
in manner, prominent in business circles and 
the success which has attended his efforts 
has been most justly and deservedly attained 
by his years of persevering labor. 



GEORGE E. HUEBER, who resides on 
section i, Malta township, is engaged 
in general farming, and is one of the most 
enterprising of the young farmers of Malta 
township. He was born in the township, 
January 24, 1864, and is the son of Gottlieb 
and Elizabeth (Heiderscheid) Hueber, both 
of whom were natives of Germany, who 
emigrated to this country in 1853, and of 
who mention is made elsewhere in this 
volume. 

George E. Hueber is fourth in order of 
birth in his father's family. He was reared 
and educated in Malta township, where he 
attended the common schools. He has 
always confined himself to agricultural pur- 
suits, and has been content to be an earnest 
and honest tiller of the soil. He remained 
under the parental roof until twenty-seven 
years of age, at which time, on the 25th of 
June, 1893, he was united in marriage with 
Miss .Agnes Hoernecke, a native of Bruns- 
wick, Germany, born February 14, i87r, 
and a daughter of August and Minnie Hoer- 



5i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



necke, both of whom are also natives of 
Germany. By this union two children have 
been born, Elizabeth in 1894, and Wil- 
helmina in 1898. 

Politically Mr. Hueber is independent, 
caring nothing for the honors and emolu- 
ments of public office. He believes in vot- 
ing for the best man, regardless of party 
affiliations. Religioush' he is liberal. 



LINCOLN WATSON, a prosperous and 
well-to-do farmer of Afton township, 
resides on section 17, on the farm where 
his birth occurred February 15, 1865. He 
is the son of William and Johanna M. (Cur- 
tis) Watson, both of whom were born near 
\Vorcester, Massachusetts, where they were 
married ]ire\ioiis to their removal to De 
Kalb county, Illinois. They were the par- 
ents of five children, one, Flora, dying at 
the age of fifteen months. The li\'ing are 
Ella, .Abbie, Lincoh: and William. 

William Watson, the father of our sub- 
ject, followed the vocation of a farmer dur- 
ing almost his entire life. Previous to re- 
moving to Illinois he worked on a farm 
as foreman, receiving for his services twen- 
ty-five dollars per month. At the age of 
twenty- five years he came with his wife to 
De Kalb county, and soon afterwards pur- 
chased the farm where our subject now 
lives. He became quite prosperous and 
well-to-do, being industrious and methodical, 
and at the time of his death in 1885, he 
was the owner of about six hundred and 
forty acres of good land. His death oc- 
curred when he was fifty-seven years of age, 
and his loss was deeply lamented by his 
family and a large circle of friends through- 
out the county. In politirs he was a Re- 
publican and religiously was a Second Ad- 



ventist, believing firmly in the teachings of 
that church. 

Lincoln Watson, our subject, grew to 
manhood upon the home farm, and later 
attended the district schools of his native 
township, entered the high school at Au- 
rora, where he spent three years. Leav- 
ing the school-room he settled down to 
work upon the farm, and has since given 
his undivided attention to agricultural pur- 
suits. On the 23d of December, 1886, 
he married Miss Lizzie E. Brown, a native 
of Milan township, De Kalb county, Illi- 
nois, and a daughter of Rev. William 
Brown, of De Kalb, Illinois. By this union 
there are three children — Reider W. , Chaun- 
cey B. and John W. 

Our subject owns about two hundred 
acres of the old Watson homestead which 
he cultivates in a very successful manner, de- 
voting his time to general farming. In poli- 
tics he is a Prohibitionist, believing firmly 
that in prohibition lies the safety of the re- 
public. Religiously, like his father, he is a 
member of the Second Adventist church. 
As a citizen he is highly respected, enjoying 
the confidence and esteem of all who know 
him. 



ALEXANDER HOWISON, who resides 
on section 31, Squaw Grove township, 
came to De Kalb county, in 1847, ^"d has 
here .-^ince continued to reside, being num- 
bered among the old settlers of the county. 
He is a native of Ro.xburyshire, Scotland, 
born November 22, 1827, and is the son of 
George and Margaret (Brown) Howison, 
both natives of the same shire. By trade 
George How son was a weaver, which occu- 
pation he followed in his native land. In 
1833, he emigrated to the United States, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



517 



locating first in Washington county, New 
York, where he remained fourteen years, 
and then came to Illinois, locating in Squaw 
Grove township, De Kalb county. Two of 
his sons, James and William, came to this 
county in 1845, and entered a tract of land 
on a portion of which the father located, 
but only lived about one year after his ar- 
rival, dying at the age of sixty-one years. 
His wife survived him many years, dying at 
the age of eighty- four years. They were 
the parents of four sons and one daughter, 
all of whom are yet living, and well settled 
in lite. James, whose sketch appears else- 
where in this work, resides in Sandwich. 
Will am is a substantial citizen of Clinton 
township. Eliza is the wife of Alexander 
G. White, a farmer of De Kalb county. 
Alexander is the subject of this review. 
Robert is a farmer of Clinton township. 

On a farm in Washington county. New 
York, our subject grew to manhood, and as 
the opportunity was afforded him, ai tended 
the public schools. He came west with the 
family in 1847, ^"^ remained with hi-, father 
until after his death. The first year he 
worked with his brother, and the following 
year purchased a claim of one hundred and 
sixty acres, of his brother William, and 
commenced to improve the farm. He con- 
tinued in that employment until 1852, when 
he went to California, taking passage on a 
vessel at New York, and going by way of 
Cape Horn, to San Francisco. On his ar- 
rival he went into the mines where he spent 
one year, and then engaj^ed in gardening. 
After residing in that country for three and 
a half years, he returned by way of the 
Isthmus of Panama to New York, being 
fairly successful in h s venture. Afte" rest- 
ing a brief time, he returned 10 his (aim, 
which he continued to cultivate for some 



years. In addition to his original purchase 
he also bought from his I rother an adjoin- 
ing place of one hundred and seventy-four 
acres, and a well improved farm in Victor 
township of two hundred acres. 

In the fall of 1862 Mr. Howison was 
united in marriage with Miss Margaret Mc- 
Cleary, a native of Ohio, who came to De 
I\alb county when about eight years old, 
with her father, James McCleary, an early 
settler of the county. By this union there 
are three sons and 1 wo daughters — George, 
Jennie, Mary Jeannette, Archie and Ralph, 
all yet residing at home. Two are deceased 
Ann Elizabeth and Isabella C. 

Politically Mr. Howison is identified with 
the Prohibition party, though formerly a Re- 
publican. He never desired nor would he 
accept office preferring to give his time and 
attention to his farming interests. He is a 
member of the United Presbyterian church, 
of which his wife and children are also mem- 
bers. Success has crowned him in his ef- 
forts, and by his industry and economy, he 
has accumulated a competency, and is the 
owner of three valuable and well improved 
farms, and to-day is recognized as one of 
the most substantial farmers in De Ivalb 
county and one in whom the people can 
trust for his strict integrity of character. 



LEWIS BEND came to De Kalb county 
in the spring of 1858, and now resides 
on a fine farm of two hundred and fifty- 
seven acres, on section 29, Victor township. 
He was born in Lincolnshire, England, 
June 5, 1831, and is the son of William and 
Sarah (Watson) Bend, both of whom were 
natives of England, where their entire lives 
were spent, the father engaging in common 
labor. In his native shire our subject grew 



5i8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to manhood on a farm, and received verj' 
limited educational advantages, and al- 
though he is now a very well informed man, 
the knowledge has since been acquired by 
reading and observation. From boyhood 
he had to make his own way in the world, 
and therefore he determined to come where 
the opportunities were greater than in his 
native land. On the 22nd of March, 1852, 
he took passage on a sailing vessel at Liv- 
erpool, bound for New York, in company 
with his brother Samuel. 

Arriving at New York, the brothers went 
direct to Monroe county, in that state, and 
there secured work on a farm. Lewis re- 
mained there about one year and a half, and 
then came west to Batavia, Kane county, Illi- 
nois, where he spent the first winter in cut- 
ting timber, and the following spring went 
to work on a farm, and continued to work by 
the month for some three or four years. In 
1858 he came to De Kalb county, Illinois, 
and rented a farm in Victor township, on 
which he resided for nine years. In 1866 
he made his first purchase of land, a tract 
of one hundred and sixty acres, comprising 
a part of the farm on which he now resides. 
Some improvements had been made, but 
with characteristic energy he went to work 
and as the time passed by, further improve- 
ments were made and in 1870 he purchased 
ninety-seven acres additional, and has since 
built a large and substantial residence and 
large barns, together with sheds for the 
shelter of his stock. Everything about the 
place shows the taste of its owner, and that 
he has been industrious, making his farm 
one of the best in Victor township. 

Mr. Bend was married in Ohio in 1854, 
to Miss Jane Sturgis, also a native of Lin- 
colnshire, England. By this union there 
are twelve children, seven of whom are liv- 



ing. Mary Ann is the wife of Thomas Wil- 
son, a farmer of Victor township. Hester 
is the wife of Frank ^^'ells, and they reside 
in Clay county, Iowa. Ella is the wife of 
Arthur Parkes. a farmer of Victor township. 
Lille and Amy are young ladies at home. 
Lewis grew to manhood, married, and set- 
tled in Nebraska, where his death occurred. 
John is married and now resides in Nebraska. 
Joseph remains at home and assists in car- 
rying on the home farm. Mattie died after 
reaching womanhood. Lucy died at about 
the age of four years, while Ellen died in 
early childhood. The mother of these chil- 
dren has also passed to her reward, her 
death taking place in December, 1892. 

Politically Mr. Bend is classed with that 
fast increasing number of men who vote as 
their conscience dictates, without regard to 
party. He has never desired nor would he 
ever hold office. Coming to this country 
without a dollar, he has by his industry and 
economy acquired a competency, and should 
he desire, he can rest easy during the re- 
mainder of his life. 



EDWARD C. DAVIS is numbered among 
the young and enterprising farmers of 
Paw Paw township, owning and operating a 
well improved farm of two hundred and 
seventy-six acres on section 12, Paw Paw 
township. He was born on the old home- 
stead where he now resides, June 23, 1870, 
and is the son of George Nelson Davis, also 
a native of De Kalb county, Illinois, born 
in 1840. The paternal grandfather, Albert 
Davis, was one of the pioneers of De Kalb 
county, coming here from Canada and lo- 
cating in Victor township, where he entered 
land, opened up a farm and reared his 
laniily. George N. Davis grew to manhood 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



519 



in Victor township and married Miss Annis 
Deming, a native of New York, and a 
daugliter of Asa Deming, who was also an 
early settler of De Kalb county. Immedi- 
ately after his marriage, he settled on eighty 
acres of the farm where his sons now re- 
side. Erecting a small frame house, he at 
once commenced the improvement of the 
place and, as his means increased, pur- 
chased more land, until he was the owner 
of two hundred and seventy-six acres, all of 
which was under cultivation. He reared 
his family on that farm and there died in 
April, 1892. His wife survives him and re- 
sides in the village of Paw Paw. They were 
the parents of two sons and one daughter, 
of whom our subject is the eldest. Bertha 
grew to womanhood and is now the wife of 
.Arthur Wells, of Paw Paw, Lee county. 
Earl resides with his mother in Paw Paw. 

The subject of this sketch continued on 
the home farm until nineteen years of age, 
in the meantime assisting in its cultivation. 
He received a fairly good education in the 
school at Ross Grove. When nineteen 
years old he left home and commenced work 
at anything which came to hand. In Jan- 
uary, 1 89 1, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Sarah Bend, a native of Victor township, 
where she was reared and educated and a 
daughter of Richard Bend, now residing in 
Shabbona township. One daughter has 
come to bless their union, Grace Davis. 

After his marriage Mr. Davis worked the 
Bend farm for one year, and after the death 
of his father, returned to the old home- 
stead where he yet resides, engaged in farm- 
ing and stock raising. Since taking posses- 
sion of the old farm, he has built a substan- 
tial residence and various outbuildings, and 
has put the place under very substantial 
improvements. He has been uniformly 



successful in that which he has undertaken, 
and being thoroughly enterprising and in- 
dustrious, it is certain that success will still 
continue with him. Politically he is a Re- 
publican, and is now serving as commis- 
sioner of highways. 



D WIGHT K. CROFOOT is entitled to 
distinction as one of the most progress- 
ive and enterprising men of Sandwich, hav- 
ing for years been identified with its com- 
mercial interests. Upon the commercial 
activity of a community depends its pros- 
perity, and the men who are recognized as 
leading citizens are those who are, or have 
been, at the head of extensive business en- 
terprises. Mr. Crofoot is a man of broad 
capabilities, who carries forward to success- 
ful completion whatever he undertakes. He 
was born in Lewis county. New York, Nov- 
ember 19, 1852, and is the son of R. D. 
and Hannah M. (Kent) Crofoot, the former 
a native of Connecticut and the latter of 
New York. They were the parents of five 
children: Adelbert B., who is engaged in 
the wholesale boot and shoe trade in 
Peoria; Anna E. , who died at the age of 
thirteen years; Dwight K., our subject; 
Ralph, who died at the age of four years; 
and one who died in infancy. The mother 
of these children died in January, 1S97, 
at the age of eighty-three years. The 
father is still living, and resides in Sand- 
wich, being now eighty-two years of age. 
He is an attendant of the Universalist church, 
of which faith he is a believer. His wife was 
also an attendant of that church. 

Our subject spent his boyhood and 
youth in Turin, Lewis county, New York, 
and was educated in the common schools, 
although he attended a short time after com- 



520 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ing to Illinois. On leaving school he engaged 
as a clerk in a dry-goods store, and later, 
with his brother and C. H. Pratt, engaged 
in the same line of trade, under the firm 
name of Crofoot Bros. & Pratt. The latter 
retiring after a few 3'ears, the firm became 
Crofoot Bros & Manchester. Two years later, 
the brother of our subject withdrew from 
the firm, and the firm became Crofoot 
& Manchester. For twenty years it was 
one of the leading firms in Sandwich and 
had a very extensive trade. Our subject 
then sold out, and went into the Sedgwick 
Bank, as a supply for two weeks, but re- 
mained two years. In June, 1897, he was 
appointed assignee of the Sandwich Enter- 
prise Company, and at present writing is 
still engaged in the business. 

Mr. Crofoot was married in February, 
1875, *-0 Miss Minnie Chapman a native of 
New York and a daughter of S. M. Chap- 
man, of LaSalle, Illinois. By this union si.x 
children have been born— Clara E., Ralph 
D. , Olive, Hazel, Hannah M. and Doris K, 

Religiously Mrs. Crofoot is a member of 
the Congregational church. In politics Mr. 
Crofoot is a Democrat, and has served his 
party as a delegate to various conventions. 
It is, however, as a business man and not as 
politician that he is so widely known. He 
is now the secretary of the cemetery asso- 
ciation of Sandwich, which is an incorporated 
body. To Mr. Crofoot and George Culver, 
the president of the association, the credit 
is due for the beautiful appearance of the 
cemetery at Sandwich. He is one of the 
directors in the Sandwich Fair Association, 
and a stock holder in the butter factory. 
He has served his city as alderman, and for 
years has been a member of the school 
board, and in that position has done much 
in shaping educational affairs in Sandwich. 



He is a man of more than ordinary ability, 
has broad and progressive views, and is well 
informed on general topics. He is of a 
frank and genial nature, cordial in manner, 
and is a man who makes friends of all who 
have dealings with him. 



HI^NRY OSBORN, who has a well im- 
proved farm of seventy-five acres on 
sections 14 and 15, Mayfield township, came 
to De Kalb county in 1S55, and has here 
since continued to reside. He is a native 
of England, born in Rutland county, Au- 
gust 25, 1834. His boyhood and youth 
were spent on the farm in his native county, 
and here had fair common school advan- 
tages while there remaining. In company 
with his brother, William, in 1853, he set 
sail for Atiierica, and landing in Quebec, 
Canada, went directly from there to Buffa- 
lo, New York, where he joined an older 
brother, who had settled in Erie county, 
that state. He at once went to work on a 
farm, and continued as a farm hand two 
summers, and during the winter of 1853-4 
he attended school near Buffalo. In the 
fall of 1854 he came to De Kalb county 
where he joined his brother, William, who 
had preceded him. He again went to work 
on a farm by the month and continued to 
be thus employed for about thirteen years, 
in the meantime attending school a few 
winter terms. He was married in 1868 to 
Miss Hattie Bailey, a native of New York, 
where she was reared and educated, and a 
daughter of S. S. Bailey, who moved from 
New York to De Kalb county. 

Just before his marriage Mr. Osborn 
purchased the farm where he now resides 
and located thereon. It was an improved 
farm, but he has since rebuilt the house and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



521 



barn and has made many substantial im- 
provements on the place. Mrs. Osborn 
here died in November, 1883. and Mr. Os- 
born later married Mrs. Clarissa De Low, 
m'e Townsend, a sister of Edwin Townsend, 
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this 
work. By this union four children were 
born, three of whom are living, Hattie, 
.Alice and Harry. Ella died at the age 
of eight years. 

Mr. Osborn was elected and served as 
commissioner of highways for three years, 
and was township collector one term. For 
twenty-three years he served as a member 
of the school board, fifteen years of which 
time he was its clerk. By his long contin- 
ued service is shown conclusively the inter- 
est which he has taken in the public schools 
and the confidence reposed in him by his 
friends and neighbors. Politically he is an 
earnest and steadfast Republican, a stanch 
advocate of the principles of the party, 
and one who does not hesitate to vote his 
party ticket. Mrs. Osborn is connected 
with the Advent Christian church; both are 
well known and highly respected by those 
who have formed their acquaintance. 



JAMES BLAKE, deceased, was for many 
years the owner of a fine farm on sec- 
tions 3 and 10, De Kalb township, and was 
numbered among the early settlers of the 
county. He was a native of England, born 
February 7, 1820, and came to this country 
with his parents, James and Mary Blake, 
when he was but nine years of age. They 
located at Akron, Ohio, and there remained 
until 1844, when they came to De Kalb 
county, Illinois. After residing here some 
years the father returned to his native land 
to restore his shattered health, but without 



avail. His death occurred while on that 
visit, dying at his old home at the age of 
seventy years. His widow remained in De 
Kalb county, where she died at an advanced 
age. 

James Blake, our subject, removed to 
De Kalb county two years prior to the time 
when his parents came. On his arrival he 
took up eighty acres of go\ernment land, 
for which he paid a dollar and twenty-five 
cents per acre, and at once erected a log 
house, but did not permanently settle on 
the claim until the second year after his ar- 
rival. For the first few years the times 
were hard with him, but in due time pros- 
perity came. To his original purchase he 
added eighty acres previous to the Civil war, 
and during the war he purchased two hun- 
dred and forty acres. The last eighty acres 
that he purchased- was in 1878. 

He was united in marriage with Annie 
Sherd and they became the parents of nine 
children, of whom four are yet living: 
Viola Rice, Cassie, Albert and Mrs. Fuller. 
Albert is fourth in order of birth and was 
born in De Kalb county, March 14, 1854, 
and here he has always continued to reside. 
He was educated in the common schools of 
the county and was early given his task 
upon the farm. He was united in marriage 
December 14. 1875, with Miss Ellen Heath, 
a native of Herkimer county, New York, 
born January 6, 1854, and the daughter of 
William and Delilah Heath, who removed 
from Herkimer county. New York, to De 
Kalb county, Illinois, in i860, where they 
spent the remainder of their lives, Mrs. 
Heath dying in August, 1875, and Mr. Heath 
February 8, 1898. To Albert and Ella 
Blake one child has been born, Clarence E., 
February 22, 1878. On the 25th of Octo- 
ber, 1S97, he was united in marriage with 



522 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Miss Maude M. Padd, of De Kalb township. 
Foliowing in the footsteps of his father, 
Albert Blake is a practical and prosperous 
farmer. 

Politically James Blake was a sound 
Democrat, and religiously a Presbyterian. 
He was an excellent farmer, a thorough 
business man, and a loyal citizen to the 
country of his adoption. He died on the 
old homestead, where he resided for more 
than half a century, June 17, 1898, at the 
age of seventy-eight years. His wife pre- 
ceded him to their heavenly home, dying 
February 28, 1895. They were both greatly 
esteemed and well Icnown in De Kalb and 
adjoining counties. 



GEORGE WHITE is engaged in gen- 
eral farming and dairying on section 9, 
Genoa township. He svas born on the 
farm where he now resides October 14, 
1849. His father. John ^^'hite, was a na- 
tive of Bavaria, Germany, born March 5, 
1 81 5, and was the son of John and Bar- 
bara (Bamar) \\'hite, both of whom were 
also natives of Germany. In his native 
land John White grew to manhood and in 
1846 came to America, sailing from Ham- 
burg and being seven weeks on the voyage. 
He first located in Pennsylvania, where he 
remained three years and where his mar- 
'ria^e with Miss Anna Margaret Hoffman 
was celebrated in the fall of 1846. She 
was also a native of Bavaria, Germany, and 
came from her native country on the same 
vessel with Mr. White. The name was 
originally spelled Weid and was changed to 
correspond with the" pronunciation in Amer- 
ica. To John and Anna M. White seven 
children were born: Charles was born in 
Pennsvlvania and now lives in Delaware 



count)', Iowa, where he is engaged in farm- 
ing; George is the subject of this sketch and 
was the first of the family born in De Kalb 
county; Maggie and Carrie, with our sub- 
ject, are now owners of the old home farm; 
John is now living in Delaware county, 
Iowa; Henry lives in Butler county, Iowa; 
Mar}' married John Billhorn and li\es in 
Iowa. 

In 1849 John White came with his fam- 
ily to De Kalb county and purchased a farm 
of eighty acres in section 9, Genoa town- 
ship, and at once commenced its improve- 
ment. He was an industrious and thrifty 
man and success crcwned his efforts. From 
time to time he added to his possessions 
until he was the owner of two hundred and 
sixty acres, the greater portion of which 
was under cultivation. He continued to 
manage the farm until after the death of his 
wife, which occurred Jul}' 6, 1896, when he 
sold to his son George and daughters Mag- 
gie and Carrie, but continued to reside with 
them until his death, January 8, 1898. 
Both were good. Christian people and well 
respected. 

George White grew to manhood on the 
home farm, and in winter attended the dis- 
trict schools until the age of eighteen years. 
He worked with his father until he attained 
his majority, after which he continued to 
work for him for wages until he purchased 
the place after the mother's death. The 
farm comprises two hundred and thirty acres 
of prairie land and about thirty acres of 
timber. It is devoted to general farming 
and dairy purposes. He milks about twenty 
cows, from which they manufacture butter, 
and having an established trade in private 
families, they dispose of all the product, re- 
ceiving one cent per pound above the Elgin 
board of trade price. In politics Mr. White is 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



523 



a Prohibitionist in sentiment, and has served 
several terms as school director. He is an 
attendant at the Ney M. E. church, and as 
a citizen has a well established reputation 
for honor and integrity. 



JOHN CARROLL came to De Kalb 
county in 1865 and now resides on sec- 
tion 7, Milan township, where he owns and 
operates a valuable farm of one hundred 
and si.xty acres. He is a native of Ireland, 
born near the city of Wexford in 1828. 
Both his parents died when he was a child 
of eight years, from which time forward he 
was thrown on his own resources. He 
came to the United States in 1848 and first 
located in Columbia county, New York, 
about twelve miles from Hudson and only 
eight miles from the Hudson river at Kin- 
derhook. He commenced work on a farm 
by the month, at which he continued for 
several years. He later worked eight years 
for Mr. Graves, a hatter of Kinderhook, and 
while there in 1858 was united in marriage 
with Mrs. Margaret McCambly, a widow 
lady from the north of Ireland, born in 
county Down. She was also an employe 
of Mr. Graves and was with him for fifteen 
years, being a specialist at hat trimming. 
While in the employment of Mr. Graves 
she made a cap for President Martin Van 
Buren. 

In 1865 Mr. Carroll came to De Kalb 
county and purchased a farm in Milan 
township, where he now resides. The place 
was partially improved, but Mr. Carroll 
commenced its further' improvement by the 
erection of a more substantial dwelling, 
large barns and other outbuildings. Under 
his management the farm has been improved 

26 



and made one of the most productive in 
Milan township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carroll are the parents of 
two children. William, the eldest born, 
came to De Kalb county a lad of si.x years 
and grew to manhood on the farm, and re- 
ceived his education in the home schools, 
supplemented by two terms in the high 
school at Malta. He remained with his 
father, assisting in the farm work, until 
after attaining his majority. He was mar- 
ried in Chicago, Illinois, March 28, 1898, 
to Miss Mary Aman, a native of Switzer- 
land, but reared in Chicago. After his 
marriage he returned to the old farm and is 
now assisting in its management. The 
daughter. Mar)', is the wife of Frank 
Young, a farmer of Milan township. By 
her former marriage Mrs. Carroll has two 
children, John R., a business man of Chi- 
cago, and Rosa, wife of Theodore Dangle- 
mayer, of Westfield, Massachusetts. 

Politically Mr. Carroll is a staunch 
Democrat and has been identified with that 
party since becoming a citizen of this coun- 
try. Religiously he is a Catholic. For a 
third of a century he has been a resident of 
De Kalb county and is a well known and 
highly respected citizen. 



RICHARD W. BLANCHFIELD is a 
farmer residing on section 12, Syca- 
more township. He was born in St. 
Charles, Illinois, July 24, 1855, and is the 
son of John Blanchfield, a native of county 
l-iilkenny, Ireland, born in 1809, and died 
in Sycamore township in 1874. He came 
to America about 1848 on a sailing vessel, 
and was si.x weeks in crossing the ocean. 
There was much sickness aboard and two- 
thirds of them died. They sailed from 



524 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Queenstown and landed at New York. 
From the latter place John Blanchfield 
came direct to Chicaj^o, where he remained 
about one year, working on a railroad which 
was then under construction. He then 
moved to St. Charles, where he resided un- 
til 1857, and then purchased a farm lying in 
De Kalb and Kane counties, the residence 
being in De Kalb county. That farm he 
continued to improve and there resided un- 
til his death. He was a devout member of 
the Catholic church, and in politics he was 
a Democrat. For some years he was school 
director and road commissioner. He was 
a well educated man, having obtained his 
education in a college in his native county. 
He married Bridget Saunders, a daughter 
of Michael Saunders, who married a Miss 
Kern. Michael Saunders was engaged in 
the Irish Rebellion in 1798. He lived to 
an advanced age. Mrs. Blanchfield died 
in 1884 on the farm of our subject. John 
Blanchfield and wife were the parents of si.x 
daughters and three sons, as follows: 
Michael, deceased; James, residing in Cal- 
houn county, Iowa; Sylvester, living in Ala- 
bama; Mrs. Sarah O'Gara, living in \N'is- 
consin; Mrs. Mary Lynch, of Chicago; Mrs. 
Anna Quinlan, of Chicago; Lizzie, residing 
in Sycamore township; Richard W., our 
subject; and Mrs. Jane McKennon, of Elgin, 
Illinois. 

The paternal grandfather, John Blanch- 
field, Sr. , was born and died in Ireland. 
He was superintendent of estates and agent 
for large landed properties. His people 
had fine estates at the time of the rebellion 
in 1798, and, because of participation in that 
rebellion, the land was confiscated. John 
Blanchfield, Sr. , was a lieutenant in the 
Rebel army. The family is one of the old- 
est in the north of Ireland. The matter of 



confiscation of the lands of the Blanchfields 
is mentioned in history. 

Richard W. Blanchfield was but two 
years old when his parents moved to De 
Kalb county. He grew to manhood on the 
farm, and attended the district schools, 
after leaving which he entered Bryant & 
Stratton's Business College, Chicago, where 
he took a two years course. Returning to 
the farm, he remained with his father until 
twenty-seven years of age. In 1882 the 
farm residence burned, and he went to Chi- 
cago where he worked for four years in a 
wholesale grocery house, his earnings being 
used in rebuilding the residence. While in 
the city his brother and wife ran the farm. 
On his return he took charge of the same, 
and has here since continued to reside, giv- 
ing his attention to general farming and 
stock raising. In politics he is independent. 
Religiously he is a Catholic, and fraternally 
a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge 
in Elgin. 



JESSE F. POPLIN, a farmer residing on 
section 28, Somonauk township, is a 
veteran of the Civil war. He was born in 
this township February 5, 1845, and is the 
son of William B. and Rachel (Harmon) 
Poplin, both natives of North Carolina, 
but who were married in Illinois, having 
come to this state with their respective par- 
ents. William Poplin came to Illinois 
about the year 1829, and it is said that he 
turned the first furrow in Somonauk town- 
ship. For a time he worked by the month 
for the father of Senator Cullom. In 1834 
he made claim to the land in section 28, on 
which he and our subject now live. In 
North Carolina he engaged in farming, and 
having heard of the excellent qualities of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



S2S 



Illinois land he determined on coming to 
this state. The Harmon family into which 
he married came about the same time. 
They were all good people from that hospi- 
table Old North state, and gave tone and 
hospitality to the neigborhood where they 
located. They were pioneers, kind, clever, 
obliging and influential, and their latch 
string was always out. They were more 
than pleased when they received a visit from 
their neighbors, the nearest of whom were 
from three to five miles distance. Chicago, 
more than sixty miles away, was their mar- 
ket. After the Black Hawk war of 1832 
the county began to fill up, and neighbors 
were more plenty and near. William Pop- 
lin was born December 23, i8og, while his 
wife was born August 26, 181 1. They 
were married March 3, 1831, in good time 
to receive many frights from the wandering 
tribes of Indians and the calamity attendant 
on prairie fires. These good old people who 
were pioneers are still living, though with 
health somewhat impaired. They were for 
a time known b)' every resident of the county, 
and it is perhaps not much to say, by almost 
every resident of the four counties. When 
they located here there was not a railroad, 
telegraph, motor car, telephone, mower, 
reaper, automatic binder or sewing machine 
known in this state. Since that time things 
have changed. Then the runaway slaves 
at times sought shelter, a thing we can 
scarcely now believe. Surely our country 
has made history rapidly during the lives of 
some who are still on the stage of action. 
The subject of this sketch is the young- 
est of six children. Sarah J., born Octo- 
ber 13, 1832, died October 19, 1834. Har- 
riet L., born January 25, 1836, was the first 
white child born in Somonauk township. 
She died March 7, 1S87. She married 



Herbert Cotton and they had two children, 
Clarence and Eva. Mary A., born Sep- 
tember 10, 1838, was burned to death 
March 6, 1839. Rebecca C. is the wife of J. 
Henry, and they have two children. Fan- 
nie E. is the wife of C. V. Stevens, a 
banker of Somonauk, and their children 
are D. F. and Ida. 

Jesie F. Poplin, our subject, was reared 
on the farm, and attended the district schools. 
On the 1 6th of August, 1862, when but 
seventeen years old, he enlisted in Company 
H, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry, his regiment being assigned 
to the Army of the Cumberland. With his 
regiment he participated in the battles of 
Resaca, Cassville, Burnt Hickory, Dallas 
Wood, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree 
Creek, and was then in the Atlanta cam- 
paign, and the march to the sea. At Law- 
tonville he was wounded, but remained with 
the division hospital. About thirty days 
later they struck Goldsboro, and later took 
part in the battles Averysboro and Benton- 
ville. Proceeding with his regiment, he 
was in the grand review at Washington, 
and June 7, 1865, received his discharge, 
after having served two years and ten 
months. The wound he received in his arm 
still gives him trouble, and he now draws a 
pension. 

Returning home after his discharge, Mr. 
Poplin resumed farming and has made that 
his life work. He was married April 11, 
1866, to Miss Carrie C. Carr, a daughter 
of Stiles P. and Susan Carr, old settlers of 
Illinois. By this union there are two chil- 
dren, Theodore, who married Miss Adel Suy- 
dan, and Carl, who resides at home. These 
parents are members of the Baptist church, 
and fraternally he is a member of Somonauk 
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Sandwich Chapter, 



526 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



K. A. M., Aurora Commandery, K. T. , and 
the Order of the Eastern Star of Sonionauk, 
also the Modern Woodmen of America, 
Home Forum, and Somonauk Post, G. A. 
R. In each of the organizations he has 
held office, being worshipful master of the 
blue lodge of Masons, for three years. He 
was also commander of the post. In poli- 
tics he is an ardent Republican, and cast 
his first president vote for U. S. Grant. 
He and his wife have ever been people of 
sterling worth and unquestionable integrity. 
He represents that class of good American 
citizens, who when the flag of our country 
was assailed, thought life itself, and all that 
life holds dear, not too good to sacrifice if nec- 
essary, that the laws of our country should 
be upheld and the nation saved. He did 
his part well as a soldier, and as a citizen 
he enjoys the respect and confidence of all. 



LORENZO C. SHAFFER is one of the 
prominent business men of Kingston, 
where he is engaged in the drug business. 
He was born in Earlville, Delaware county, 
Iowa, April 12, 1865, and is ihe son of Ira 
and Helen (Williams) Shaffer, both of whom 
were natives of Ohio, and wl.o followed ag- 
ricultural pursuits all iheir lives. The 
grandparents of our subject, on the mother's 
side, Chester and Sallie Williams, were 
born in 1800, and removing to Illinois in 
1840, located in North Kingston, where Mr. 
Williams took up four hundred acres of 
government land, and upon which he built 
and immediately began to improve the land, 
an J paved the way for his daughter, Mrs. 
Shaffer, who in after years resided upon 
that farm, but who is now living quietly in 
the village of Kingston, a worthy and highly 
respected lady. Her father, Chester \\'ill- 



iams, died in 1848, at the age of forty-eight 
years. She was born in Ohio, in 1836. 

To the parents were born only one child, 
Lorenzo C. , the subject of this sketch. He 
was reared and educated in Kingston, being 
but one year of age when brought by his 
mother to this county. After attending and 
graduating from the common schools of 
Kingston, he entered the Northwestern Uni- 
versity of Chicago, and .'^pent one year in 
the study of pharmacy. Previous to this, 
however, he was in the employ of Dr. J. H. 
Fellows, and after his return from the uni- 
versity, he bought the establishment of his 
former employer. He has since been con- 
tinuously in the drug and grocery business, 
and his patronage has been equal to that of 
any other merchant in the place. He is in 
love with his vocation, and his gentlemanly 
deportment, his pleasing and affable man- 
ner, combined with strict adherence to busi- 
ness principles, make him a successful 
business man. 

On the 26th of November, 1892, Mr. 
Shaffer was united in marriage with Miss 
Effie McCollom, a native of De Kalb coun- 
ty, born in Mayfield township, November 5, 
1869, and a daughter of Isaac and Roxie 
McCollom. In addition to his regular busi- 
ness, Mr. Shaffer is secretary of the King- 
ston Creamery Company. In politics he is 
a Republican, and has served as a member 
of the town council for three years. He is 
a highl}' respected member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and also of the Modern Wood- 
men of America. 



WILLIAM VOSBURGH is a practical 
farmer residing on section 29, Kingston 
township. He was born in Canada, Sep- 
tember 23, 1827, and is the son of John and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



527 



Mary (Martin) Vosburgh, both of whom 
were also natives of Canada. In i 868 the 
family came to the United States, and located 
at Belvidere, Illinois, where the mother died 
the same year. The father returned to 
Canada the following year, and there his death 
occurred shortly after his return. By occu- 
pation he was a farmer, and was an honest, 
upright man. He had been a faithful ad- 
herent of the established Church of England 
for fifty-four years. All those years his wife 
was also a member of the same church, and 
both died in peace. They were the parents 
of eight children, all of whom grew to ma- 
turity, and are now living at an advanced 
age. 

William Vosburgh was fifth in order of 
birth, and was reared and educated in Can- 
ada. In 1856 he was united in marriage 
with Miss Elizabeth Williams, a native of 
Canada, and by this union seven children 
were born: EmilyJ., John P., Anna, Elijah, 
Frank, Carrie and Ernest J. They are all 
farmers or wives of farmers. Mrs. Vos- 
burgh died in 1896. She was a noble wo- 
man of spotless character and upright life, 
and her death was a great loss to family 
and friends. 

In 1868, Mr. Vosburgh came to Illinois, 
in company with his parents, and located in 
Belvidere, Boone county, where he remained 
but a short time, and then moved to Frank- 
lin township, De Kalb county, and subse- 
quently made some other moves, finally 
locating, in 1877, in Kingston township, 
where he purchased his present farm of 
eighty acres, upon which he still continues 
to reside. He is a practical farmer and a 
loyal citizen, and strongly advocates the 
principles of the Republican party. When 
in his native country he held to the same 
principles and voted them, but under an- 



other name. No man in Kingston township 
is held in greater esteem than the subject of 
this sketch. 



NICHOLAS WEBER is a farmer resid- 
ing on section 33, Kingston township. 
He is a native of Luxemburg, Germany, 
born June 7, 1831, and is the son of Jacob 
and Catherine Weber, both of whom were 
natives of Germany. Jacob Weber was a 
practical farmer, and followed that vocation 
all his life, and died when comparatively a 
young man, October 8, 1843. His wife 
came to this country in 1864, and died in 
Chicago in 1869. Their family consisted of 
eighteen children, twelve of whom grew to 
maturity, and six came to this country. 
Bnt three of the entire number are now 
living. 

Nicholas Weber was reared and educated 
in Germany, where he remained until he 
was twenty-three years of age, when he 
emigrated to this country. He came directly 
to Maj'field township, De Kalb county, Illi- 
nois, and has remained in that township, 
and in Kingston, up to the present time. 
He was in this country but three years 
when he bought forty acres of land in its 
wild state. This was in 1857. That land 
he improved by the erection of buildings, 
fencing and tiling the same. To the first 
forty he added another forty acres which 
he owned in partership with his brother 
Phillip. In 1866, he sold out his interest 
to his brother, and purchased eighty acres 
of his present farm, on which he has erected 
substantial buildings, and otherwise im- 
proved the place. To the original eighty 
he added twenty acres in Mayfield township, 
then ten acres of timber, and forty acres 
more of prairie land. With the exception 



528 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of twenty acres, his farm all lies in Kings- 
ton township. On October i, 1S63, Mr. 
Weber was united in marriage with Miss 
Harriet M. Knight, born in Columbus, Ad- 
ams county, Illinois, June 5, 1840, and a 
daughter of Samuel and Mary Knight. Her 
Her father was born in Maryland, June 28, 
1 8 16, while her mother was born in Wil- 
mington, Green county, \'ermont, February 
21, 1815. Both are now living in Mayfield 
township, De Ivalb county, to which place' 
they removed May 17, 1845, and where 
there have since resided. Their family 
numbered ten children, of whom six are 
now living. They are excellent people and 
members of the Christian church. 

To Nicholas and Harriet M. Weber, six 
children have been born, four of whom are 
living. Inez L. , born June 30, 1864, mar- 
ried Elmer Hadsall. Clara E., born Feb- 
ruary 3, 1866, married Henry King. Jeru- 
sha E., born July 13, 1867, died December 
19, 1872. Amanda J., born September 20, 
1869, married Wesley Slafter. Walter S., 
born November i, 1873, married Miss Han- 
nah Leonhardt, October 18, 1894, and a 
daughter of Charles Leonhardt, and they 
have two children: Louis C, born Septem- 
ber 5, 1895; Jesse N., born August 27, 1898. 
Hattie A., born May 21, 1875, died Novem- 
ber 15, 1889. No family in Kingston town- 
ship is more highly respected than that of 
our subject. 



THOMAS CORNWALL, a retired farmer 
living in Sycamore, was born in the 
village of Mardin, Kent county, England, 
June 8, 1828. His father, William Corn- 
wall, was born in the same town and county. 
He was a footman to gentlemen and died in 
1830 when about thirty years old. The pa- 



ternal grandfather, William Cornwall, Sr. , 
was a farm workman and died when past 
four score years. His wife lived to be about 
the same age. \Mlliam Cornwall married 
Fannie Bottin, by whom he had four chil- 
dren, our subject being the youngest. After 
his death his widow married Edward \\'ater- 
man, who canie to America in 1848 and 
died in \'irginia about 1858. She died about 
one year later, leaving six children, four of 
whom were taken and reared by our subject. 
Thomas Cornwall grew to manhood in his 
native country and when old enough secured 
work as a chore boy, for which he received 
two pence a day. He later found work on 
a farm, at which he continued until coming 
to America in 1847. He sailed for America 
on the Queen of the West and was five 
weeks and two days on the ocean, landing 
in New York in December, 1847. Arriving 
there he borrowed two dollars and fifty cents 
to take him to Utica, from which place he 
walked to Waterville, sixteen miles, where 
two sisters were then living. The first work 
secured was in threshing grain with a flail, 
for which he received three cents per bushel 
for oats and five cents per bushel for rye. 
He could thresh about twenty bushels of 
oats per day. He well remembers the first 
threshing machine that he ever saw in New 
York. 

In 1849 he returned to England and was 
there united in marriage with Eliza Ann 
Ewings, born in ICent count}', England, a 
daughter of David Ewings. By this union 
there are six children, as follows: Thomas, 
now residing in Mt. Hope, Kansas; Byron, 
li\ing on the old home farm in I\ane county; 
William, a farmer of Harjier, Kansas; Mar- 
tha, wife of Henry Winter, of Sycamore; 
Alonzo, a stationary engineer in Sycamore; 
and Fred, a teamster residing in Sycamore. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



529 



Immediately after marriage Mr. Corn- 
wall returned with his bride to the United 
States, and 'until 1858 was employed in va- 
rious occupations in New York, and then 
came west to Sycamore, Illinois, and for 
one year was engaged as a day laborer. In 
the summer of 1859 he went to California, 
walking most of the way in company with a 
party of seven persons. He left Sycamore 
April 12, and reached Honey Lake valley 
August 5. He first went to work sawing 
logs at forty dollars per month and board, 
and later was engaged in repairing a ditch 
nine miles long, for which he received three 
dollars per day and board. He also had an 
interest in several mines, but none of them 
proved profitable. For one year he was 
employed on a salary of seven hundred and 
fifty dollars, but loaning his money to his 
employer he lost it all. Later he worked 
for another man, at fifty dollars per month, 
and at the end of three years returned to 
Sycamore with six hundred dollars. 

Desiring a home, Mr. Cornwall pur- 
chased a small farm of thirty acres north of 
Sycamore, which he retained four years. 
Being unable to obtain any land adjoining, 
he sold the same and went to Campton 
township, Kane county, Illinois, where he 
purchased one hundred and twentj'-eight 
acres, and there resided for nine years. He 
then purchased another farm of one hun- 
dred and thirty acres, giving him a total of 
two hundred and fifty-eight acres, on which 
he resided until 18S5, when he rented the 
farm to his son Byron, and has later sold to 
him. On his first place he built two barns 
and a milk house and spent about one thou- 
sand dollars in tiling. He spent some three 
thousand dollars in building on the two 
farms. For twelve years he made butter, 
and of such superior quality that he always 



obtained the highest prices, one winter re- 
ceiving fifty cents per pound. He usually 
shipped to St. Louis, and at one of the fairs 
held in that city he took a premium of fifty 
dollars. 

In 1885 Mr. Cornwall came to Sycamore 
and bought a residence on Maple street, 
where he has since continued to reside. In 
politics he is a Republican, and while re- 
siding in Campton township was a school 
director. As already stated, when his 
mother died he took the children by her 
second marriage and reared them as his 
own. He also reared two of his sister's 
children, and has now living with him his 
granddaughter Eva, his son Byron's oldest 
daughter by his first wife. He takes no 
great credit for what he has done, but, as he 
says, "simply does his duty." He never 
chewed or smoked. When seventeen, a 
large boy attempted to force a chew of to- 
bacco in his mouth, and after a long struggle 
Mr. Cornwall got the fellow's arm in his 
teeth and held on until he cried enough. 



ROBERT WILLIS is one of the most 
progressive and enterprising farmers of 
South Grove township, where he has a farm 
of seven hundred and twenty acres, which 
is well improved in every respect. He is a 
native of Somersetshire, England, born in 
1838 and is the son of Henry and Sarah 
Willis, both natives of the same shire. 
When but two years old his parents died 
and he therefore never knew the loving care 
of a father or mother. He remained in his 
native land until he attained his majority, 
when he concluded to try his fortunes in the 
New World. In 1859 he set sail for the 
United States, and after landing in New 
York, came direct to South Grove township, 



530 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



De Kalb county, where he worked oneyearon 
a farm by the month, after which he rented a 
farm and commenced farming on shares, at 
which he continued for eight years. He 
then purchased one hundred and twenty 
acres of partially improved land at twenty 
dollars per acre. With characteristic energ}', 
he went to work to improve the place and 
as his means increased he purchased more 
land until he has now seven hundred and 
twenty acres, all of which is under cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr. Willis was united in marriage with 
Miss Maria Rich, also a native of England, 
and they now have two children, Frank and 
Albert, both residing at home, and assisting 
in the cultivation of the farm. 

In politics Mr. Willis is a Democrat, 
and notwithstanding the excessive labors of 
the farm he has served as school trustee 
and filled other local official positions. He 
is a thorough believer in the free school 
system and has been willing to do his part 
in advancing the interests of the schools. 
He and his wife are members of the Church 
of England, in which body they were reared 
and in the faith of which they are steadfast. 
Coming to this country with but little means, 
but with that determination to succeed, 
success has crowned his efforts and he is 
now numbered among the wealthy farmers 
not only of South Grove township, but of 
the entire county of De Kalb. Both he and 
his wife are held in the highest esteem by 
all who know them. 



JOHN ARNOLD, a retired farmer living 
in the village of Leland, is the owner 
of one hundred and sixty acres of fine land 
in Victor township, De Kalb county. He is 
a native of England, and is the son of John 



and Alice (Alford) Arnold, also natives of 
England, and the grandson of William and 
Elizabeth Arnold, of the same country. 
John Arnold, Sr. , came to the United States 
in 1S51. and located in New York, where he 
resided for two jears, and then came to 
Kane county, Illinois, where he rented a 
farm of three hundred acres, which he cul- 
tivnted about three years, and then moved 
to \'ictor township, De Kalb county, where 
he continued fanning until his death. 

John Arnold, our subject, was born in 
Lincolnshire, England, December 11, 1823, 
and in his native shire grew to manhood, 
and on the 3rd of October, 1844, was 
united in marriage with Jane Palmer, also 
a native of Lincolnshire, born January 29, 
1S25. Immediately after his marriage, he 
opened a butcher shop in Dyke, England, 
which he continued to run until his emigra- 
tion to the United States in 1851, when he 
crossed the ocean in company with his par- 
ents and with his family. For three years 
he remained in New York state, working at 
anything which he could find to do. In the 
fall of 1854 he came to Illinois and located 
in Kane county, where he engaged in farm- 
ing on rented land, until 1858. He then 
moved to Victor township, De Kalb county, 
and purchased a farm of eighty acres, which 
he sold in 1865; he then bought one hun- 
dred and sixty acres. He became quite a 
successful farmer, and made many improve- 
ments upon the place. He was a raiser of 
full-blooded Durham cattle, Poland-China 
and Chester- White hogs, in all of which he 
met with success. 

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have six living 
children. William has been twice married, 
his first union being with Elizabeth Wood- 
cock, and after her death, married Sarah 
Woodcock. They reside in N'ictor town- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



531 



ship, where he is engaged in farming. Jo- 
seph is single, and makes his home with his 
brother William, although he is the owner 
of a fine farm which he cultivates. Henry 
married Ellen Nicholson, b\' whom he has 
two children. The}' reside in Calhoun 
county, Iowa, where he is engaged in farm- 
ing. John P. married Julia Rowley, and 
they reside in Calhoun county, Iowa, where 
he is also engaged in farming. Isaac mar- 
ried Ella Barnes, and they reside in Victor 
township, where he is engaged in farming. 
Charles, a farmer, married Clara Burnham, 
and they also reside in Victor township. 

In politics Mr. Arnold was a Repub- 
lican until the nomination of Cleveland in 
1884, since which time he has voted the 
Democratic ticket. He is a well-known and 
highly respected citizen, and his friends are 
numerous in both De Kalb and La Salle 
counties. 



ENOCH DARNELL, deceased, was a 
well-to do farmer in De Kalb county. 
He was born in North Carolina, May 12, 
1S29. His father, John Darnell, and his 
grandfather, Benjamin Darnell, were people 
of prominence and respectability in their 
da}' and locality. John Darnell removed 
from North Carolina to Indiana, in 1832, 
and there remained two years, then removed 
to Kendall county, Illinois, locating near the 
Fox river. He remained there engaged in 
farming, until 1868, when he came to De 
Kalb county, and located in Afton town- 
ship, where he purchased eighty acres of 
improved land. There he remained until 
his death November 3, 1878, at the age of 
fifty-eight years. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
Kendall county, Illinois, and received a 



limited education in its public schools. On 
the 1st of January, 1855, he was un ted in 
marriage with Cynthia A. Woods, a native 
of Cumberland count}', Pennsylvania, born 
November 23, 1823, and a daughter of 
David and Catherine Woods, who emigrated 
from Pennsylvania to Kendall count}', Illi- 
nois, in 1846, at which place she met and 
married Mr. Darnell, and from which place 
she removed with him to De Kalb county. 
By this union two children were born; 
Newton, born December 5, 1858, grew to 
manhood, and married Miss Emma Mar- 
shall, January i, 188S, and a daughter of 
John and Eliza Marshall, of Charter Grove, 
Illinois. She was born in De Kalb county. 
To this happy union four children have 
been born, George, Arthur, Nellie and Alice. 
Willis, born August 13, 1865, is yet single. 
Enoch Darnell, like his namesake of old, 
was an exemplary man. He was a member 
of the United Brethren church, and was 
honorable in all his ways, practicing what 
he professed, and confessing that what he 
believed, always adhering strictly to the 
golden rule. His death occurred in 1878, 
while yet in the prime of life. Mrs. Darnell 
is a consistent member of the United 
Brethren church, and an estimable woman 
in character and life. Her sons work the 
home farm, but she still retains her claim 
to it, from which she draws her interest an- 
nually. 



P.ATRICK LEONARD, deceased, was a 
practical farmer, who resided on sec- 
lion I, Kingston township, where lie owned 
and operated a farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres. He was born in Queens coun- 
ty, Ireland, in 1842, and was a son of John 
and Margaret Leonard, both of whom were 



532 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



natives of the same country. The former 
died in Ireland, while in the prime of life, 
and in 1871, Mrs. Leonard emigrated to the 
United States and located in Rhode Island, 
with some relatives who preceded her. Of 
their family of five children, three are yet 
living, our subject being second in order 
of birth. 

Patrick Leonard came to the United 
States in 1845, at the age of fifteen years. 
He located first in Boone county, Illinois, 
where he remained a few years, and then 
came to De Kalb county, locating in Syca- 
more, where he made himself useful as a 
farm hand and teamster. He proved him- 
self a faithful employee in every respect, 
having the full confidence of his employers. 
In 1862, when his adopted country's honor 
was at stake, when so many of America's 
sons proved traitors and recreants, he will- 
ingly offered himself as a private soldier 
and was enrolled in Company A, One 
Hundred and Fifth Illinois \'c)lunteer 
Infantry, and served his adopted coun- 
try faithfully and well, until his discharge 
at the close of the war. 

On his return to civil life, Mr. Leonard 
located in Genoa township, where he en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. On the 2nd 
of December, 1866, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Jeannette Strong, a native of 
Genoa, Illinois, born F"ebruary i, 1846, 
and a daughter of William and Sabrina 
Strong, both of whom came to this country 
in an early day, the latter in 1838, and the 
former about 1842. They were united in 
marriage in Genoa, in 1845, and there their 
family was reared. Mr. Strong was a na- 
tive of Ohio, born July 24, 181 7, and died 
August 30, 1889. His wife was born in 
Pennsylvania, March 30, 1825, and died 
March 26, 1886. To Mr. and Mrs. Leon- 



ard eleven children were born, eight of 
whom are yet living — Henry, William, 
Alice, John, Joseph P., Jeannette, Charles 
and Sabrina. 

Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Leonard 
purchased a farm on section i, Kingston 
township, containing eighty acres, forty of 
which he subsequently sold. To the forty 
which he retained, he added one hundred 
and twenty acres more, all of which is now 
owned by his widow. Fraternally he was a 
member of the Grand Army of the Republic, 
religiously a Roman Catholic, politically a 
Republican, and naturally a lover of free- 
dom, liberty and equal rights, and an en- 
emy to any government which enslaved 
men or held them in the bonds of tyranny. 
He died February 27, 18S9, leaving a host 
of friends to lament his death. 



ROBERT R. OUIGLEY is a farmer and 
carpenter residing on section 15, King- 
ston township. He was born in Portland, 
Chautauqua county. New York, August i, 
1834, and is the son of John and Amanda 
(Brainard) Ouigley, both of whom were also 
natives of Portland, New York. In his 
youth, John Ouigley learned the carpenter's 
trade, which occupation he followed in con- 
nection with farming during the latter pari of 
his life. When a young man he was a 
sailor on the lakes, and commanded vessels 
on those waters, and was twice shipwrecked. 
He was in company with those who raised 
the hulls of the Lake Erie and Mayflower, 
vessels that were burned on the lake. A 
daring and courageous man, he won the 
favcjr of those who knew him. His father, 
John Ouigley, Sr., was a native of Ireland, 
and served as a soldier in the war of 1812, 
dying at the age of one hundred and one 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



533 



years, six months and six days. John Quig- 
ley, Jr., and his family came to Illinois, in 
1861, making his home with his son, Robert 
R., who came at the same time, and located 
in Kingston township, on section 8, where 
he purchased a farm of fifty-five acres. 
During his residence there he followed the 
carpenter's trade extensively, his work being 
in demand all over the neighborhood where 
he resided. He died October 17, 1885, at 
the age of seventy-seven years. His wife 
died November 21, 1889, also aged seventy- 
seven years. They were exemplary Chris- 
tian people, the husband and father being 
an extremely close Bible student, and made 
good use of the knowledge thus obtained. 

Robert R. Quigley was reared and edu- 
cated at the place of his birth, and as his 
father was an expert with plane and saw, he, 
too, soon became proficient in the use of 
carpenter's tools, and during the life time of 
his father they worked together at their 
trade. At Dunkirk, New York, November 
6, 1853, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Ann S. Lucas, a native of Genesee 
county. New York, born November i, 1833, 
and a daughter of Eli and Mary Lucas. In 
1861, as already stated, he came to De 
Kalb county, and followed his trade in con- 
nection with farming, until 1S92, when he 
sold his farm, and removed to a small place, 
where, in the congenial companionship of 
his wife, he lives in peaceful retirement. 
They are both members of the Baptist 
church and worthy Christian people. By 
his fellow citizens, Mr. Quigley has been 
honored with various offices, serving as col- 
lector one term, school director seventeen 
years, constable four years, and road com- 
missioner nine years. He is a man held in 
high esteem for his true worth and excel- 
lent character. 



JAMES EDMUND ELLWOOD, post- 
master of Sycamore, was born in Spring- 
field, Otsego county. New York, April 26, 
1831, and was ninth in a family of seven 
brothers and four sisters who have been 
prominently and intimately connected with 
the commercial and social life of Sycamore 
and De Kalb for many years. Truly broth- 
erly in sentiment, as each younger one was 
ready to enter upon business life, the older 
ones always extended a helping hand and 
always stuck together in their business en- 
terprises, and in fraternal intercourse the 
concord never being broken. 

Abraham Ellwood, the father of our 
subject, was born in Montgomery county. 
New York, near Springfield Hollow, where 
his father left him a large, well stocked 
farm. Being quite young at the time he 
succeeded to the property, and being of a 
sympathetic nature, he endorsed heavily for 
a friend, losing nearly all his possessions, a 
part only being saved through the influence 
of a brother. With his brothers-in-law, he 
later secured a contract to build a part of 
the New York Central railroad, and subse- 
quently contracted to widen and deepen a 
section of the Erie canal. Both contracts 
proved profitable, and put him on his feet 
again. He married Sarah De Long, born 
in the Mohawk Valley, New York, and a 
daughter of James and Lydia (Krankheit) 
De Long, the latter being a native of Hol- 
land, and one of the heirs to an old estate 
in that country. In 1855, with his wife, he 
came west with his son, Alonzo, who had 
been east buying goods, and liking the 
country, he concluded to remain. Leaving 
his wife, he returned to his old home, sold 
his property, and" coming to Sycamore, they 
here spent their last days, he dying August 
24, 1872, at the age of seventy-nine years, 



534 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nine months and seventeen days. His wife 
survived him, dyinjj January 17, 1879, at 
the age of eighty-three years, ten months 
and twenty-si.\ days. 

When our subject was a small boy the 
family moved to Montgomery county, New 
York, and in 1843 to Ilion, Herkimer coun- 
ty, in the same state, where our subject re- 
sided two years. He then spent three 
years with a sister at Cherry Valley, New 
York, and two years with a brother, a broom 
manufacturer, at Schenectady, New York. 
He attended schools in the various places 
where he lived during his school age. At 
the age of twenty he took a five years lease 
on one hundred and si.xty acres of land in 
Mohawk Flats for the purpose of cultivating 
broom corn. He sold his lease after one 
year and took a position with a brother in a 
grocery store at Frankford Lock, where he 
remained one year. 

At the request of his brother, Reuben, 
who had previously been in Sycamore, Mr. 
Ellwood came to De Kalb county, arriving 
here April 7, 1855. With his brother, Reu- 
ben, they leased and planted one thousand 
acres in broom corn, but. it being a year of 
great prostration in business, the crop, which 
was sold in Philadelphia, was not so re- 
munerative as anticipated. His brother 
then returned to New York, and the next 
year he alone raised about five hundred acres 
of broom corn, and then sold the buildings, 
machinery, etc., and in partnership with his 
brother, Chaunce)', engaged in the general 
mercantile business at Sycamore. Three 
months later General Dustin came to Syca- 
more to visit Judge James, and feeling Sat- 
isfied with the place, purchased Chauncey's 
interest in the store, and the firm of Ellwood 
& Dustin continued the business for three 
years, when General Dustin retired, that he 



might enter the service of his country dur- 
ing the Rebellion, and our subject continued 
the business alone for one year, when Charles 
D. Bennett became a partner. Owing to 
the gradual and regular increase of values 
during the war, the business was very pros- 
perous. In three years Mr. Ellwood bought 
his partner's interest, and for seventeen 
years ran the business alone and was very 
successful. About this time, in partnership 
with his brother, Alonzo, they erected a part 
of Central block on State street, where they 
went into business together and continued 
three years. Mr. Ellwood then sold to 
George M. Sivwright and invested in the 
stock of the R. Ellwood Manufacturing Com- 
pany, from which he later withdrew. Since 
that time he has operated in western lands, 
and has now a farm of three hundred and 
twenty acres, well improved and stocked, 
in Iowa. 

In 1 85 I Mr. Ellwood was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lodeska H. Fellows, a na- 
tive of Mindenville, Herkimer county, New 
York, and a daughter of Newton and Sarah 
(Stoddard) Fellows. By this union six 
children were born, four of whom died in 
infancy or early childhood. The living are: 
Sarah A. and James B. The former mar- 
ried B. ^^^ Paine, and they have one son, 
James Claude Paine, a practicing physician 
and a graduate of the medical department 
of the Northwestern University, Chicago. 
He received his diploma in June, 1898. 
Before his graduation he had considerable 
experience in the hospitals of Chicago and 
charity practice in the city. He is now lo- 
cated in Peoria, Illinois. The son, fames 
B., is holding an important position in the 
office of the Diamond Match Company, at 
Chicago. He is a graduate of the Syca- 
more High School, and also took a course 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



535 



in the Illinois College at Jacksonville. He 
has traveled extensively over the United 
States, in the interest of the Diamond 
Match Company, and has spent two years 
in South America. 

In politics Mr. Ellwood is a stanch Re- 
publican and has always taken an active 
part in political affairs, but has persistently 
refused office, city, county or state. For 
the last few years, having little to employ 
his time, and being accustomed to a life of 
business activity, he applied for the posi- 
tion of postmaster at Sycamore, received 
the appointment and took charge of the 
office October i, 189S. For forty years he 
has been a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity, and although he keeps his dues paid, 
he seldom attends the meetings of the 
lodge. His life has been an active one, 
and he is a thorough representative of the 
best interests of his adopted city and 
county. 



AGATES WHITE, mayor of the city of 
Sandwich, Illinois, was born in Almira, 
New York, March 2, 1841, and is the son of 
Seth M. and Sarah (Ray) White. The fa- 
ther, who was a farmer and blacksmith by 
occupation, first came west in 1854, re- 
mained two years, then returned to his 
native state, and in 1861 again came west, 
locating at Sandwich, where his death 
occurred March 20, 1891. He was born 
February 3, 1810. His wife, born August 
12, 1815, in Orange county, New York, 
died August 31, 1892, in Sandwich, Illinois. 
They were married August 22, 1833, in the 
town of Southport, Chemung county. New 
York. They were originally members of 
the old-school Presbyterian church, but on 
coming to Sandwich became identified with 



the Congregational church, in which faith 
they died. 

Seth M. White was the son of Dr. 
Amos Gates White, a celebrated physician 
of Chemung county, New York, to which 
county he removed from Berkshire county, 
Massachusetts. The family traces their an- 
cestry back to the seventeenth century, 
when one of the name came to America in 
the Maytlov/er. Dr. Amos G. White was 
born in Richmond, Berkshire county, Mass- 
achusetts, December 17, 1768, and died 
February 5, 1833, and was buried at Elmira, 
New York. His wife was Abigail Marvin, 
and they were married at Goshen, New 
York, February 2, 1798. She was a sister 
of General Marvin, of Revolutionary fame. 
His mother was a sister of General Gates, 
also a noted officer in the Revolution. Gen- 
eral Seth Marvin, the father of Abigail, was 
a native of Orange county, New York, where 
his daughter was also born, April 23, 1778. 
She died at Seeley Creek, New York, July 
30, 1816, and was buried at Elmira, New 
York. The children of Dr. White were as 
follows: (i) Emily A., born July 3 f, 1799, 
married Harvey Jones, of Elmira, New 
York. Their children were William, de- 
ceased; Austin, deceased; Frank, Edward 
and Elliott. The family moved to Marion, 
Iowa, in the '503, and both parents are now 
deceased. (2) Elvira Green, born Novem- 
ber 24, 1801, married Colonel Samuel Ba- 
ker, of Elmira, New York, and the latter 
moved to Sun Prairie, near Madison, Wis- 
consin, and both are now deceased. Their 
family now reside in Wisconsin and Ne- 
braska. (3) Marcus Aurelius, born Decem- 
ber 28, 1803, died in the spring of 1884. 
He married Betsy McConnell, of Chemung 
county. New York, but she is now deceased. 
Their children were Amos, deceased; Emily 



536 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and Mary Ann. (4) Orlina Rebecca, born 
March 11, 1806, married Hunt M. Pomeroy. 
She died in the early '30s. Her only child 
was Marcus Mills Pomeroy, known the 
world over as "Brick Pomeroy." (5) Di- 
ana Hyde, born March 26, 1808, died un- 
married. (6) Seth Marvin, the father of 
our subject, born February 3, 1810. (7) 
Alanson Austin, born October 24, 181 1, 
died November 12, 1877, at the residence 
of our subject. (8) Sally Closson, born 
October 21, 181 3, married Alpheus A. San- 
derson. They moved to Red Wing, Minne- 
sota, in the early '50s and both died there. 
Their children were Triphena, Mary, 
Charles, Seth, Loretta, Judge A. E., Hel- 
en, Marcus and Frank. (9) William Wells, 
born July i, 1816, died November 12, of 
the same year. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
a farm at Southport, New York. He was 
the only child of his parents that lived to 
maturity. In the country schools he ob- 
tained his education, and when quite j'oung 
commenced railroading with the Williams- 
port & Almira Railway, serving one year as 
fireman. In 1858 he came west and located 
in Sandwich, where he learned the machin- 
ist trade, but engaged in farming and rail- 
roading for a time. Returning to New York 
he remained a short time, and in 1861 again 
came west and went into the machine shops 
at Sandwich and remained one year, finish- 
ing his trade. In August, 1862, he enlisted 
in Company H, One Hundred and Fifth 
Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as a 
private, served three years, and was dis- 
charged as a sergeant. He started from 
Louisville, marching through Kentucky, 
Tennessee and Alabama, joining Sherman 
at Murfreesboro, in the spring of 1863. He 
took part in the Atlanta campaign, and had 



charge of a foraging party a part of the time. 
He was in nineteen hard-fought battles, and 
never missed but one fight in which his 
regiment took part, which was at Benton- 
ville, North Carolina. He was with Sher- 
man on his march to the sea, and was in the 
grqnd review at Washington, from which 
place he was sent to Chicago, and there 
mustered out. 

The war closing, Mr. White went to La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was in the em- 
ploy of Brick Pomeroy for a time. He then 
returned to Sandwich, and began grading, 
being foreman of a gang on the Fox River 
Railroad, now a part of the Chicago, 13ur- 
lington & Ouincy system. He was next in 
charge of track laying, then ran a train as 
conductor for several years. He has served 
in all capacities, running an engine, con- 
ductor, train master and superintendent of 
the construction department of the building 
of the Texas & Pacific Railroad. While in 
the latter business he made his home at 
Dallas, Texas, where he built a street car 
line from the river to the Texas Central 
depot. 

Returning from Texas in about 1872, he 
went to Indiana, in charge of grading a rail- 
road, but was there only six months. He 
then came back to Sandwich, but soon after- 
ward went to Kansas, as a conductor on the 
Sante Fe Railroad, making his home first at 
Florence, and later at Emporia. While re- 
siding in the latter city, he built a streetcar 
line. Leaving the Sante Fe after several 
years service, he moved to Fort Scott, Kan- 
sas, and was conductor on the Missouri Pa- 
cific Railway. Later he was train master 
on the same road, during the construction 
of a part of its S3 stem. In 1887 he re- 
turned to Illinois, and was conductor on the 
Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy Railroad for 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



537 



nearly two years, running from Aurora to 
Savannah. Returning to Sandwich he en- 
tered the employ of the Sandwich Enter- 
prise Company, serving that company for 
six years. 

Mr. White was united in marriage April 
1 9, 1867, with Miss Sarah A. Dean, daugh- 
ter of Nelson A. Dean, then residing near 
Sandwich. Her death occurred some three 
years later. Mr. White was again married, 
his second union being with Mrs. Mary B. 
Sanders, nee Yourt, daughter of Ale.xander 
Yourt. Religiously she is a member of the 
Presbyterian church in which she takes an 
active part. 

Fraternally Mr. White is a Mason and 
has attained the Knight Templar degree. 
He is also a member of the Knights of Pyth- 
ias. Socially he is an honorary member 
of the Highland Association of Chicago, of 
which he was at one time president. This 
is an organization of Saxon and Celtic 
Unions. Politically Mr. White is a Repub- 
lican. In 1895, he was elected mayor of 
Sandwich, receiving a good majority. In 
1897 he was re-elected without opposition. 
During the three years of his incumbency, 
it is said that he has made more improve- 
ments than in twenty years preceding. 
New walks have been constructed, streets 
graded, electric lights introduced, and an 
opera house erected in that time. Progress- 
ive in all things he makes a No. i official. 



HON. REUBEN ELLWOOD, deceased, 
was for many years the most noted 
citizen of De Kalb county. He was born 
in Minden, Montgomery county. New York, 
February 17, 1821, and was the son of Ab- 
raham and Sarah (DeLong) Ellwood. His 
early life was spent in his native state, and 



his primary education was obtained in the 
common schools, but it was in the school 
of experience that his education was prin- 
cipally received. He was a very vigorous 
and energetic youth, and desired to be some- 
thing more than a common laborer during 
life, and to that end he struck out for the 
great west when only sixteen years old. In 
1837 he came to De Kalb county and en- 
tered a claim to one hundred and sixty acres 
of land near Sycamore, and for four years 
worked for various farmers in the vicinity 
until he could prove up on his claim. He 
then returned to his old home in New York, 
where, after resting for a short time, he be- 
came a student in Cherry Valley Seminary 
for about six months. 

Resolviiig upon a business career, Mr. 
Ellwood went to Glenville, Schenectady 
county. New York, and engaged in raising 
broom corn and in the manufacture of 
brooms, continuing in that line of business 
for about eight years. In 1857 he again 
came to De Kalb county and became asso- 
ciated with his brother, Alonzo, in the gen- 
eral hardware trade at Sycamore, and at 
the same time engaged in the real estate 
business. In 1870 he commenced the man- 
ufacture of agricultural implements at Syca- 
more, and in 1875 commenced the erection 
of the large buildings which were afterward 
used by the R. Ellwood Manufacturing 
Company, in which he invested about fifty 
thousand dollars. To the building up of 
that manufactory he gave his best energies, 
and it became one of Sycamore's most noted 
institutions. To other enterprises he gave 
of his time and means, believing in the ben- 
eficial effect of manufacturing institutions. 

While yet residing in his native state 
Mr. Ellwood became interested in political 
affairs, and was elected a member of the 



538 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



legislature of New York in 1851. On the 
organization of the Republican party he es- 
poused its principles and was among his 
most earnest champions during the remain- 
der of his life. On coming to De Kalb 
county his merits as a leader were soon 
recognized, and he became the first mayor 
of the city after its incorporation. In 1866 
he was appointed United States assessor of 
internal revenue, and filled the position 
until it was abolished by law. In 1868 was 
the choice of the Republicans of De Kalb 
county for representative in congress. In 
1882 he was nominated for congress and 
elected by a large majority, and re-elected 
in 1884, serving until his death in July, 
1885. He made a very efficient member, 
and his death was the nation's loss. 

Mr. EUwood was married August S, 
1849, to Miss Eleanor Vedder, a native of 
Schenectady county. New York, and they 
became the parents of six children — Abram, 
Albert, Frank, Katie, Jennie and Alida. 



LERNED E. GLEASON, who is en- 
gaged in tilling the soil and leading the 
quiet and peaceful life of a farmer on sec- 
tion 5, Kingston township, was born in 
Girard, Erie county, Pennsylvania, Septem- 
ber 15, 1836. He is the son of E. L. and 
Polly Ann (Spinkj Gleason, the former born 
in Franklin county, Massachusetts, April 7, 
1806, and the latter in Vermont, April 5, 
1815. 

E. L. Gleason was a man of rare tal- 
ents, well qualified to fill positions of trust 
and honor. Being possessed of a good edu- 
cation, for a number of years he was en- 
gaged in teaching school. In 1 840 he de- 
cided to come west and located in I3oone 
county, Illinois, where he resided until his 



death, which occurred March i, 1887, at 
the advanced age of eighty-one years. He 
was a good, practical farmer and at the time 
of his death was the owner of two hundred 
and forty acres of finely cultivated land. In 
politics he was a stanch Republican, and 
served his township in the capacity of town- 
ship trustee for a period of nine years to 
the entire satisfaction of ail concerned. E. 
L. Gleason and Polly Ann Spink were 
united in marriage June 2, 1833, and to 
them were born six children, four of whom 
yet survive: Amos H., Mary, Ellen and 
Lerned E. Amos H. is a graduate of Hills- 
dale College, where he took up the study of 
law, for a life work, and in 1874 was ad- 
mitted to the bar. 

Lerned E. Gleason, the subject of this 
review, was reared and educated in the 
common schools of Boone county, Illinois. 
He ahva3's resided at home and confined 
himself to agricultural pursuits, and when 
age began to tell on his father he took 
charge of the home place. Mr. Gleason re- 
moved from Boone to De Kalb county in 
1 867, where he purchased eighty acres of 
highly cultivated land. He pursues no 
special line, but engages in general farming. 
Of good business qualifications and practical 
farming ideas, he has made a success at the 
calling in which so many fail. 

On January 7, 1876, Mr. Gleason was 
united in marriage with Miss Julia H. Crit- 
tenden, a daughter of P. S. and Maria L. 
Crittenden. To this union came one daugh- 
ter, Katie L., born November 8, 1879, and 
whose death occurred August 3, 1881. Mrs. 
Gleason was born in Boone county, Illinois, 
September 29, 1S47, and there received her 
education. Her parents were pioneers of 
Boone county, removing from the east in 
February, 1835, and coming direct to Illi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



539 



nois. P. S. Crittenden tanght school at 
that time and was also an instructor in vocal 
music. Religiously he and his wife were 
both members of the Baptist church, in 
which body he served as deacon for a num- 
ber of years and was, in fact, one of the 
pillars of the church. In politics he was a 
Republican and held several township 
offices with credit. He died on the 31st of 
August, 1873, preceded three years by his 
wife, whose demise occurred April 14, 1870. 
Their family numbered nine, of whom five 
are yet living: Elmina, Rosalthe, Esther, 
Julia and Isaac. The latter is a lawyer of 
distinction and a graduate of Hillsdale Col- 
lege. 

Politically our subject is a Republican 
and is a firm believer in the principles of 
that party. He has been elected to a num- 
ber of local offices, fulfilling the trust in a 
highly satisfactory manner, among which is 
that 01 school board treasurer of the town- 
ship for thirteen years, constable for eight 
years, justice of the peace si.xteen years, 
school trustee si.x years, been path master 
twenty years, and for the past ten years has 
been serving efficiently as the postmaster of 
Colvin Park. In these various offices, with 
their cares and petty annoyances, he has ac- 
quitted himself most creditably, discharging 
every duty in his usual faithful manner. 



w 



ILLIAM A. DENNIS is engaged in 
the real estate, loan and insurance 
business m Sandwich, Illinois, and is also 
a justice of the peace, a position which he 
has held for sixteen years. He is a native 
of De Kalb county, born on a farm in 
Somonauk township, September 26, 1852, 
and is the son of Major and Mary A. (Har- 
mon) Dennis, the former a native of Mas- 

27 



sachusctts and the latter of North Carolina. 
By occupation, Major Dennis was a farmer, 
which vocation he followed during his entire 
life. In 1834 he came from his native state 
to Illinois, and settled on Somonauk Creek, 
Somonauk township, where he took up a 
tract of government land, which is now 
owned by our subject. That land he im- 
proved, and there resided until his death, 
which occurred January 16, 1856. His 
marriage with Mary A. Harmon wa= cele- 
brated February 10, 1842. She was born 
March 28, 1817, and died June 25, 1897. 
In 1834, she accompanied her parents, Mr. 
and Mrs. Amos Harmon, to De Kalb county, 
Illinois. Her parents were among the first 
settlers in Somonauk township, locating 
here about the time of the Blackhawk war. 
At that time the country was in its prim- 
itive state, and there was no grist mill for 
many miles. In order to obtain flour and 
meal, they would burn a hollow in a log or 
block of wood, into which the grain was 
put, and converted into flour by the use of 
an iron wedge for a pestle. Wild animals 
and Indians were always near them, the old 
Indian Chief, Shabbona, known in history 
as the white settlers' friend, being a frequent 
visitor to their home. If Indians chanced 
to visit the house at mealtime, they would 
simply saj' "eat," "eat," and help them- 
selves. But always on the following day, 
some Indian would bring a mess of fish in 
payment, and for the purpose of trading.for 
salt and other connnodities. As Mrs. Den- 
nis was conversant with the Pottawattomie 
language, this intercourse was not difficult. 
Mr. Dennis was a lifelong member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and in early 
days was very active in church. She was 
the mother of four children as follows: 
Waity O., wife of J. E. Baker, general 



540 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



agent of the New York Mutual Life Insur- 
ance Company, by whom she has two chil- 
dren, Mattie and Leroy. Shepard, who 
married Myra Wallace, by whom he had 
one son, Edward, died at the age of twenty- 
six years, leaving his wife and son, who are 
still living. Rebecca, widow of C. S. Lewis, 
of Aurora. She has one daughter, Estella, 
principal in the shorthand department of 
the Palmer shorthand school. The subject 
of this sketch completes the family. 

William A. Dennis grew to manhood on 
the farm in Somonauk township, and re- 
ceived his education in the common schools. 
The old homestead of his father he now 
owns, having purchased the interest of the 
other heirs. The farm consists of one hun- 
dred and twenty-one acres, well improved 
with orchard, good dwelling and various 
outbuildings. On the farm he resided until 
March, i8g8, when he rented the place and 
moved to Sandwich, where he is now giving 
special attention to his loan and real estate 
business. He is also agent for some of the 
best insurance companies in the country, in- 
cluding the Niagara and Home of New York. 
He has built up quite an extensive business, 
and enjoys the confidence of his fellow men 
in a remarkable degree. For the past two 
years he has been a notary public. 

Mr. Dennis was married March 29, 1882, 
at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Chicago, to Miss 
Maggie M. Wallace, a native of JefTerson 
county. New York, and a daughter of Ham- 
ilton and Mary Ann Wallace, of Scotch ex- 
traction. By this union six children have 
been born — Millie M., Carrie H., Minnie E., 
Cora, Blanche and Estella. 

In politics Mr. Dennis is an ardent Re- 
publican, and fraternally a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America. The fam- 
ily are attendants of the Methodist Episco- 



pal church. He is a good lively business 
man, enterprising in all things, and believes 
in keeping abreast of the times. 



RICHARD L. DIVINE, deceased, was 
one of the most popular attorneys that 
ever practiced at the De Kalb county bar. 
He was born in Fallsburg, Sullivan county. 
New York, September 27, 1S32, and was 
the youngest of ten children born to James 
and Mehitable (Halli Divine. His father 
was a native of the same town and county, 
to which place the grandfather of our sub- 
ject moved in 1794. James Divine became 
a very prominent man in Sullivan county 
and filled various offices of honor and trust. 

In his native county our subject spent 
his boyhood and youth, and in tlie common 
schools received his primary education, 
afterwards attending a select school taught 
by Henry R. Lowe at Fallsburg, after which 
he spent eight years in teaching in his native 
county, in the meantime stud\ing law with 
George W. Lord, of Monticello, New York. 
In 1857 he was elected school commissioner 
of Sullivan county, but in the fall of that 
year came west to Michigan and engaged in 
teaching at Allegan. In the spring of 1858 
he came to Sycamore and entered the office 
of Hon. E. L. Mayo, but in the winter fol- 
lowing taught a term of school in Cortland 
township, and in March, i860, was admitted 
to practice. Forming a partnership with 
Mr. Mayo he rapidly rose to prominence as 
a counsellor and advocate. 

Mr. Divine was married at Sycamore, 
August II, 1862, to Miss Susan S. Smith, a 
native of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and a 
daughter of James M. and Martha (Lowell) 
Smith. ISy this union the following named 
children were born: Henry, Mary Beatrice, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



S4I 



Richard L. , Gertrude A., James Joseph and 
Charles A. 

Politically Mr. Divine was a Republican, 
and in 1S72 was elected presidential elector, 
and in 1875 was elected mayor of Sycamore. 
In 1867, in partnership with Moses Dean 
and Daniel Pierce, he embarked in the bank- 
ing business, which relation was continued 
four years, when he withdrew and formed a 
partnership with C. O. Boynton, and under 
the firm name of Divine & Boynton again 
engaged in the banking business, in which 
he continued until failing health necessitated 
his retirement. His death occurred August 
22, 1882, and his death left a void in the 
community hard to fill. In social life he 
was the rarest of companions. No man had 
more warmer or truer friends. 



NJ. HILL. — No foreign element has be- 
come a more important part in our 
American citizenship than that furnished 
by Norway. The emigrants from that land 
have brought with them to the New World 
the stability, enterprise and perseverance 
characteristic of their people, and have 
fused these qualities with the progressive- 
ness and indomitable spirit of the west. 
The subject of this sketch, who is now liv- 
ing a retired life in the village of Leland, 
was for years one of the active and enter- 
prising farmers of Victor township who 
came to De I'ialb county in 1861. He is a 
native of Norway, and is a son of Jens and 
Martha Hills, both of whom were also na- 
tives of Norway and came to this country 
in 1859, locating in De I\alb county, mak- 
ing their home with their sons. Our sub- 
ject, however, preceded them to this coun- 
try, coming in 1856, first locating in La 
Salle county, Illinois, where he engaged in 



farming, working the land on shares. He 
continued to be thus occupied until i86r, 
when he purchased seventy-five acres of 
land in Victor township, to which he re- 
moved and began its cultivation. Later 
he added fifty acres and there resided until 
his removal to the village of Leland in 1891. 

Mr. Hill was married in 18 56 to Miss Mary 
Olson, a native of Norway, who also came 
to this country in 1856, and a daughter of 
Ole and Milin Olson, both natives of Nor- 
way, but are now deceased. By this union 
were four children, one of whom died in 
infancy. John grew to manhood, married 
Annie Tobis and lives in Paw Paw township, 
where he is engaged in farming. Martha 
married Martin Olson and they reside in 
Leland, Illinois. Ole is married and lives 
in Victor township where he is engaged in 
farming. 

After moving to his farm, Mr. Hill made 
many improvements in the place, planting 
an orchard and setting out ornamental trees, 
tiling the land, and the erection of a sub- 
stantial residence and good barns. Coming 
to this country with but limited means he 
has attained success in his chosen calling, 
and by his industry and thrifty habits is 
now enabled to live a retired life, enjoying 
the fruits of former toil. He and his wife 
are earnest and consistent members of the 
Lutheran church in which faith they were 
reared. They are well respected people 
and have many friends. 



FRANK D. LOWMAN, editor and pro- 
prietor of the Sandwich Free Press, 
Sandwich, Illinois, was born in Somonauk, 
De I\alb county, Illinois, March 22, 1866, 
and is the son of John and Melissa (Davis) 
Lowman, the former a native of Penns\l- 



542 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



vania and the latter of New York. John 
Lowman was a tinner by trade, halving 
served his apprenticeship at Harrisburg and 
at Pittsburg, Penns\'lvania. He was born 
in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, December 4, 
1826. His father, the grandfather of our 
subject, died when he was but nine years of 
age, and he was then thrown on his own 
resources. In 1855 he came west, locating 
first in Ottawa, Illinois, where he remained 
some five years and then moved to Somo- 
nauk, where he resided until his death, 
October 10, 1897. He married Melissa 
Davis at Little Rock, Kendall county, April 
26, 1865. His widow is yet living, an hon- 
ored resident of Sandwich. She is a mem- 
ber of the Congregational church. Her 
parents, Joshua and Mahala Davis, are both 
still living at Somonauk, aged respectively 
eighty-si.x and eighty-two years. They 
came to Illinois in the '50s, where the father 
engaged in farming, but is now living a re- 
tired life. To John and Melissa Lowman 
four children were born, of whom our sub- 
ject is the eldest. The others are Clara, 
wife of A. F. Kestermeier, of South Chi- 
cago, where he is engaged in running a de- 
partment store. Katherine is the wife of 
W. M. Hay, a farmer in De Kalb county. 
John Earl resides at home. 

The subject of this sketch was educated 
in the Somonauk High School, after which 
he entered the office of the Somonauk 
Reveille to learn the printing trade, and 
there continued for four years. He then 
worked in printing offices in Sandwich for 
a time and later was editor of the Piano 
News for three years. He bought the Free 
Press of Sandwich February 14, 1898, and 
has since been its editor and proprietor. 
The Free Press is one of the best local 
papers in northern Illinois and has gained a 



large circulation and is fast becoming a 
popular and model paper. It is published 
wecklv and presents a neat and attractive 
appearance. It is printed on a modern 
power press and the office from which it is 
issued is well equipped for job printing of 
every kind. 

Fraternally Mr. Lowman is a member 
of the Masonic order and politicall}' he is a 
Republican, taking great interest in political 
affairs. He is a man of good business qual- 
ifications and has a practical knowledge of 
every detail of his business. A man of fine 
physique, of a genial and generous nature, 
patriotic and public spirited. 



REV. (.ILBERT H. ROBERTSON, D. 
D., of Sandwich, Illinois, is one of the 
most widely known men residing in De Kalb 
county. He was born in Washington coun- 
ty-. New York, November 28, 1831, and is 
the son of .Archibald and Anna Robinson) 
Robertson, the former a native of New 
York, and the latter of Scotland, but who 
came to this country with her parents, 
when but si.\ years of age. His paternal 
grandfather, William Robertson, was a 
native of Ireland, but of Scotch descent. 
He came to America about 1770. His wife 
was a Miss Livingston, and both families 
were quite prominent in the early history of 
Washington county. New York. 

Archibald Robertson was a farmer, which 
occupation he followed his entire life. He 
never held or aspired to office, but gave his 
best endeavors to the farm and farming in- 
terests. He was reared in the Scotch Pres- 
byterian church, and was a life-long mem- 
ber of the same. His family were brought 
up on the shorter catechism, as the epitome 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



543 



of Christian doctrine. He died in 1850, at 
the age of seventy years. His wife, who 
was also a lie-long member ol the Scotch 
Presbyterian church, died in August, 1849, 
when about si.xty years of age. Our sub- 
ject is the j'oungest of their ten children. 
Of these five are 3'et living: Thomas, who 
now resides in Chicago, at the age of 
eighty-six years; Captain Duncan, who re- 
sides on the home farm; Jeannette, widow 
of Edward Law, resides in Missouri; Kate, 
widow of Alexander Lourie, resides in Keo- 
kuk, Iowa. The deceased are William, 
Archibald, i\lar\', Ann E. and John. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the farm, and after receiving his primary 
education in the public schools, entered 
Union College, Schenectad}', New York, 
from which he was graduated in 1849. He 
later entered the Theological Seminary of 
the Associate Presbyterian church at Can- 
onsburg, Pennsylvania, from which he 
graduated in 1855. Leaving the seminary, 
he went out as a missionary through New 
York and Pennsyh'ania, and in 1S58, the 
Associate and the Associate Reform Presby- 
terian churches having united a few days 
previousl}', he was ordained, being the first 
minister ordained in the United Presbj'- 
terian church. He then filled the pulpi, 
of the Hebron Presbyterian church, in Heb- 
ron, Washington county, New York, for 
two 3'ears. In the spring of i860, he ac- 
cepted a call to the Park Presbyterian 
church, in Troy, New York, where he re- 
mained nearly five years, resigning because 
of failing health from disease incurred while 
serving the Christian commission during the 
famous battles of the wilderness and Spot- 
sylvania. In the spring of 1865, he came 
to Sandwich, Illinois, aniving here the day 
before President Lincoln was assassinated. 



The president was assassinated Friday 
night, April 14, 1865, and on Sunday night 
following he preached a memorial sermon 
by request of citizens, who had assembled 
in mass meeting. He took for his text, 
".\nd the children of Israel wept for Moses 
on the plains of Moab. " The preaching of 
this sermon was a herculean task. The 
hall was filled to overfiowing, and every ex- 
pectation was at its height. Much was ex- 
pected of the new minister, who had only 
arrived the previous Thursday. The atten- 
tion was all that could be desired, and in 
due time the speaker who had began to 
warm up, enthused the audience to such an 
extent that their highest expectations were 
more than realised. The meeting and that 
address were freiiuenth' spoken of for 
nonths and year?. 

After remaining in Sandwich about two 
years. Dr. Robertson went to Springfield, 
Illinois, as pastor of the Second Presby- 
terian church, and was there for four 
years. 

In the summer of 1870 Dr. Robertson 
received and accepted a unanimous call 
from the Chestnut Street Presbyterian 
church, of Louisville, Kentucky, one of the 
largest and wealthiest churches in the state. 
During his pastorate in that cit}' he received 
the honorarj- degree of Doctor of Divinity, 
from Danville College, Danville, Kentucky. 
In the winter of 1872-73, he became editor 
of the Louisville Daily and Weekly Com- 
mercial, the leading Republican paper of 
the state, of which General John i\I. Harlan, 
later one of the justices of the supreme 
court of the United States, was the leading 
owner. 

In I 874 Dr. Robertson returned to Sand- 
wich, and took charge of the Sandwich 
Gazette, and for nearly seventeen years 



544 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was its editor and publisher.. He was then 
appointed deputy collector of revenue, 
with headquarters in Chicago. He had 
charge of the butterine department, looking 
after the seven factories then in operation 
in Chicago. The seven factories one month 
made between five and six million pounds 
of butterine. Their output was nearly forty 
million pounds per year. In addition to 
looking after the factories, he had charge 
of the wholesale and retail dealers, about 
fifteen hundred in number, who were each 
required to secure license for the sale of 
butterine. With the change of administra- 
tion, he retired from that office. 

Dr. Robertson was married May 30, 
1859, to Miss Mary L. Beveridge, daughter 
of Rev. Thomas Beveridge, D. D., who for 
many years was the leading professor of the 
Theological Seminary, of the Associate and 
afterwards of the United Presbyterian 
church. Her paternal grandfather. Rev. 
Thomas Beveridge, came from Scotland, 
and was one of the first ministers in Wash- 
ington county. New York, and until his 
death was pastor of the Cambridge church. 
Her mother belonged to the McKee family, 
many of whom are prominent citizens of the 
same county. 

To Dr. and Mrs. Robertson three chil- 
dren have been born. William H. is the 
secretary of the Midland Elevator Com- 
pany, on the Board of Trade, Chicago. 
He married Miss Fannie Schnellj', of 
Peoria, and they have one child, Dorothy. 
She was formerly a very successful teacher 
in the Sandwich public schools. Bessie is 
the wife of S. P. Sedgwick, cashier of the 
Sedgwick Piank of Sandwich, and they have 
three children: Ray, Westel and Marjorie. 
Harr) is now in Missouri engaged in news- 
paper work. He has tra\eled extensi\ely 



in Australia, Sandwich Islands, and the 
United States. 

Dr. Robertson in his various relations in 
private and public life, has always been the 
same earnest, upright, capable and court- 
eous gentleman, winning and holding the 
confidence and esteem of all who know 
him. He has many amiable qualities and 
good business methods have tended to 
make him popular in all classes with whom 
he comes in contact. He and his most 
estimable wife are greatly beloved, and their 
influence for good can scarcely be overesti- 
mated. Earnest in all he undertakes, and 
possessing rare powers of exhortation, he 
can bring home to the hearts and con- 
science of his hearers their shortcomings 
as few public speakers can. 



GEORGE W. MONTAGUE, who owns 
a farm of one hundred and sixty-two 
acres in section 20, Victor township, is now 
living a retired life in the village of Leland. 
He was born in Cromwell, Huntingdon 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1827, and there 
grew to manhood and received a good com- 
mon-school education. He is the son of 
Daniel and jane (Clugage) Montague, the 
former a native of \'irginia and the latter 
of Pennsyhania. By occupation the father 
was a farmer, a vocation that he followed 
during his entire life. 

In his youth, Mr. Montague learned the 
carpenter's trade, and followed that occu- 
pation until the breaking out of the war for 
the Union. In 1S47, he came west and lo- 
cated at Little Rock, Kendall county, Illi- 
nois, which was his home for a number of 
j'ears. He was united in marriage July i, 
1855, with Miss Mary Mulkey, a native of 
Ashe county. North Carolina, and a daughter 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



545 



of William and Sarah (Cox) Mulkey, both 
of whom were also natives of the same 
state. There was but one child by this un- 
ion, William A., who grew to manhood, 
and married Esther Scoval, and is now en- 
gaged in farming in Victor township. They 
have four children: Alice, Charles, Her- 
bert and Jessie. 

When the war for the union was in prog- 
ress and men were in demand, Mr. Mon- 
tague enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
with which he served until the close of the 
war. With his regiment he was engaged in 
the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, the siege of 
Vicksburg, the battles of Jackson, Missis- 
sippi, Mission Ridge, and the Atlanta cam- 
paign. He was then in the march through 
Georgia and the Carolinas, and was dis- 
charged in June, rS65. A brother was also 
in the service. 

On receiving his discharge, Mr. Mon- 
tague returned to Little Rock, Illinois, and 
worked at his trade until 1868, when he 
purchased a farm of eighty acres, in Victor 
township, De Kalb count}', where he has 
since continued to reside and to which, in 
1877, he added eighty-two acres more. 
Since taking possession of the farm, he has 
made various improvements upon it, includ- 
ing a large barn, the erection of a fine wind- 
mill, and tiling the greater portion of it. He 
has proved himself a practical farmer, and 
has been quite successful in the business. 
For more than fifty years Mr. Montague 
has been a resident of northern Illinois, 
while his wife has resided here since 1834, 
at which time she was brought in early child- 
hood by her parents to Kendall county. 
In the years that have come and gone they 
have witnessed many changes, and although 
their lives in many respects have been une- 



ventful, they have \et done what they 
could in advancing the material interests of 
their adopted county and state. In all the 
years they have maintained the respect and 
good-will of their friends and neighbors. 



"\ X T-ARREN WEEDEN, who has a val- 
V V uable farm of one hundred and 
seventy-nine acres in section 32, Mayfield 
township, has been a resident of De Kalb 
county since April, 1855. He was born in 
the town of Hartland, Windsor county, 
Vermont, October i, 1829. His father. 
Captain Samuel Weeden, was a native of 
the same town, county and state, born in 
1792. His father, the grandfather of our 
subject, was Samuel \\'eeden, Sr. , a native 
of Rhode Island, from which state he 
moved to Windsor county, Vermont. Cap- 
tain Samuel Weeden grew to manhood in 
his native state, and there married Martha 
A. Cady, also a native of Windsor county, 
\'ermont. They spent their entire lives in 
their native county, the Captain dying in 
Bridgewater, Vermont, in 1870, at the age 
of seventy-si.\ years. His wife survived 
him a few years. His title of Captain was 
secured by service in the militia in the 
war of 1 812, where he did good service. 
Of their family of seven sons and one 
daughter, all grew to mature years except 
the daughter, who died at the age of two 
years. Four of the sons yet survive. 

Warren \\'eeden was reared in his na- 
tive county, his primary education being 
received in the common schools, which was 
supplemented by several terms in a select 
school and academ}'. For several winters 
he was engaged in teaching in his native 
state, an occupation which he followed for 
a time after his removal to Illinois. In 



546 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1855 he came to De Kalb county, Illinois, 
arriving in Sycamore in April of that year. 
During the summer following he worked at 
carpentering and also during the season in 
the harvest fields. This he continued to 
do until the fall of 1858. when he returned 
to Vermont, and in Windsor county, No- 
vember 6, 185S, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Frances S. Wood, a native of 
the same county, there reared and edu- 
cated, and a daughter of Otis and Angelina 
Wood. Mrs. Weeden is a lady of good 
education and was a teacher in Vermont, 
and also taught a few terms after her re- 
moval to Illinois. 

Immediately after their marriage the 
young couple came to De Kalb county, 
where Mr. Weeden engaged in teaching at 
Malta, during the following winter. In the 
spring he engaged in farming in the vicinity 
of Malta, and for two years was employed 
in farming and teaching in the winter. His 
wife also engaged in teaching, having a few 
scholars in their own home. In i860 he 
removed to Mayfield township, where he 
rented a farm and also taught school dur- 
ing the winter. In 1862 he purchased 
eighty acres of the farm where he now 
resides, and locating thereon at once com- 
menced its improvement. As his means 
increased, and the opportunity was afforded 
him, he added to his possessions until now 
he owns one hundred and seventy-nine 
acres, on which he has built a neat and 
substantial residence, good barn, granery, 
shop and other outbuildings, and otherwise 
improved the place. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Weeden two children 
have been born. Angelina C. is now the 
wife of Samuel Weeden, a farmer of May- 
field township. Otis X. is a young man 
now residing in the state of \^'ashington, 



where he owns and operates a claim. Mr. 
and Mrs. W'eeden have also reared and 
educated three children besides their own. 
Ira Farwell grew to manhood under their 
care, married, and is now engaged in farm- 
ing in Mayfield township. Laura Farwell 
is now the wife of George Ra\', and they 
reside near Cedar Kapids, Iowa. Nellie 
Perry yet remains with her foster parents. 
Politically Mr. Weeden was originally 
an Abolitionist, and cast his first presiden- 
tial ballot for John P. Hale. Since the or- 
ganization of the Republican party, he has 
supported its men and measures. He has 
served as assessor of his township, and also 
as township trustee. His influence has al- 
ways been on the side of the public school 
system, and for years he served as a mem- 
ber of the school board. Religiously he 
and his wife are members of the Univer- 
salist church at Sycamore. Coming to the 
county in Ncr}- limited circumstances, by 
his industry, assisted by his good wife, he 
has acquired sufficient to enable them to 
live in comfortable circumstances during 
the remainder of their lives. No couple in 
Mayfield township are held in higher esteem 
than Mr. and Mrs. Weeden. 



AD. WAI^LACE is a retired farmer, but 
an esteemed business man, living in 
Sandwich, Illinois. He was born in Earl- 
ville. La Salle county, Illinois, June 16, 
1851. His father, Charles \\'allace, was a 
native of \'ermont, where he grew to man- 
hood, and later moved to New York. He 
married Jeannette Wier in Ottawa, Illinois. 
In about 1840 he came to Illinois, locating 
in La Salle count}' and building the first 
frame house in Earlville. He was a carpen- 
ter by trade, but for some years engaged in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



547 



agricultural pursuits. On coming to the 
state he purchased some government land 
and later purchased from private parties 
other tracts, becoming the owner of consid- 
able land in and near Earlville. On one of 
his farms was a log house, which was taken 
down a few years since and was the last of 
its kind within a radius of many miles. 
Connected with it were many stories and 
pleasant associations, endearing to those 
with whom they were familiar. He built a 
brick block in Earlville, which is now owned 
by our subject. Religiously, he was a Pres- 
byterian, of which body his wife was also a 
member. He died in October, 1884, when 
about sixty-five years old. His wife sur- 
vived him, dying in 1889 at the age of about 
si.xty-four years. They were the parents of 
' five children: Dr. A. C. , who was born May 
10, 1848, studied and practiced dentistry, 
and died in 1891; A. D., our subject; Gil- 
bert; Charles, who died young; and George, 
who died of consumption when about nine- 
teen years old. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the farm and received his education in the 
Earlville schools. After leaving school he 
traveled for a wholesale grocery house and 
was in the retail grocery trade in Earlville. 
On the 28th of January, 1875, he married 
Miss Delia A. Rogers, a daughter of Israel 
Rogers, of Sandwich. By this union are 
four children: Claude W., who was born 
December 10, 1877, died August 18, 1878, 
at the age of eight months and eight days; 
Mabel C, Lewis Earl and I'iuth Jeannette, 
all of whom are at home. 

Soon after his marriage Mr. Wallace 
moved to the farm, where he remained seven 
years, and in the spring of 1882 located in 
Sandwich, where he has since continued to 
reside. He has a beautiful home at 416 



North West street. He is engaged in the 
real-estate business and is the owner of con- 
siderable property in Earlville and Sand- 
wich, including the Wallace House and va- 
rious dwellings and store buildings. He is 
also a large stockholder in the Sandwich 
Enterprise Company and in other corpora- 
tions. 

Religiously Mrs. Wallace is a member of 
the Latter Day Saints. Fraternally he is a 
member of the Masonic order. In politics 
he is a Republican, and takes considerable 
interest in political affairs. He has been 
alderman from his ward for two years, and 
has done much for the improvement of his 
adopted city, both officially and as a private 
citizen. He takes part in all enterprises 
which promise for the best welfare of the 
city. In the past year he has made much 
improvement in the Wallace House, in the 
way of repairs and putting in electric lights, 
etc. The success which has attended his 
efforts has been gained by the pursuit of 
honorable and enterprising methods, and he 
is justly regarded as one of the leading and 
representative business men of the city of 
Sandwich. 



M 



ARTIN DODGE, a retired farmer re- 
siding in the cit\- of De Kalb, is one of 
the respected, prominent and useful citizens 
of the county. He is a descendant of one 
of Vermont's best and most worthy citizens. 
His father, Abram Dodge, was a quiet, ge- 
nial man of social habits, whose home was 
one of comfort. He removed from \'ermont 
to Canada in 1808, where he remained five 
years, enduring all the hardships of pioneer 
life in that climate and at that date. He 
was married in Vermont, previous to his go- 
ing to Canada, to Miss Elsie Cook, by whom 



548 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he had seven children, five of the number 
reaching maturity — Daniel, Thomas, Han- 
nah, Louise and Martin. The latter is the 
only sur\i\ing member of the family. Han- 
nah and Louise were women of rare intel- 
lectual ability, for whom nature and art 
did much in bringing out those beautiful 
traits of character which make humnnitx' 
divine. They both taught schools and were 
successful educators. Louise taught until a 
short time before her death, which occurred 
in the twenty-seventh year of her age. Han- 
nah taught for twent}' years. Both were 
stanch supporters and members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. 

Martin Dodge remained at home until 
after the death of his parents, which occurred 
in i860. He has been twice married, his 
first wife being Miss Maria Priest, the ac- 
complished daughter of Mr. Priest, a native 
of his own town and one of the wealthiest 
farmers living there. Mrs. Maria Dodge 
was a refined lady and educated in the pub- 
lic schools and at Black River Academy. 
She was a consistent member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. Three of her 
brothers were in the Civil war. One broth- 
er, a graduate of Tuft's College, Boston, 
Massachusetts, is now president of a college 
in New York. For his second wife, Mr. 
Dodge married at Mt. Holly, Vermont, April 
8, 1874, Miss Anna Eliza Chase, daughter 
of Elijah and Tryphosa (Blodgett) Chase. 
While in Vermont Mr. Dodge held several 
offices of trust which he filled with marked 
abilit)'. He is now a useful director of the 
First National Bank of De Kalb. 

Abram Dodge, the father of our sul)ject, 
died at Mt. Holly, Vermont, in 1S65, at the 
age of eighty-seven years. His wife, Mrs. 
Elsie (Cook) Dodge, was a woman of rare 
(jualities of mind. Her honored father. 



Daniel Cook, was one of the brave men 
who in the Revolutionary war was willing 
to sacrifice his life for liberty and independ- 
ence. Abram Dodge was the son of Daniel 
Dodge, of Scotch e.xtraction, and who dur- 
ing the Revolutionary war was a noted scout 
on the American side and whose exploits 
turned the tide of war more than once 
against the British. He was one of the 
main factors in the capture of Burgoyne's 
arniw His wife, Hannah \'an Waland, was 
a sweet dispositioned woman, whose last 
da\s were passed peacefulJy at Mt. Holly, 
where her death occurred at the advanced 
age of ninety-seven years. 

Mrs. Anna Eliza (Chase) Dodge was 
born at Mt. Holly, Vermont, January 8, 
1844. Her father, Elijah Chase, was a 
native of Athol, Massachusetts, born De- 
cember 17, 1804. Her mother, Tryphosa 
Chase, was a native of Deerfield, Massa- 
chusetts, born .April 7, 1808. They were 
married at Athol, Massachusetts, Septem- 
ber 19, 1827, after which thej' removed to 
Mt. Holly, \'ermont, where they resided 
iiiilil the death of Mr. Chase, which occurred 
April 5, 1872. In 1876 his widow re- 
mo\ed to De Kalb county, Illinois, to. make 
her home with Mrs. Dodge, and remained 
there until death took her hence August 21, 
1896. Mr. and Mrs. Chase were e.xcellent 
people and their church relations were very 
dear to them. Mr. Chase was a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and served 
as steward, his wife ably aiding him in his 
church work, being a member of the same 
body. Their home was one of sunshine 
and happiness, where love predominated. 
Everybody was welcome, and nearh' every- 
body came. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Chase con- 
sisted of ten children, eight of whom grew 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



549 



to maturity. Joseph was a prominent man, 
an active member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church, and a man of unspotted char- 
acter. PhiUip E. and Ambrose P. were 
founders of a large manufacturing industry 
at Mt. Holly, and were very successful in 
their business. They were both soldiers in 
the Civil war, and fought bravely in defense 
of their country's integrit}'. Phillip was a 
member of Compan}- A, Second Vermont 
Volunteer Infantr}', and was deservedl)' pro- 
moted to the rank of captain. Ambrose 
was a member of the Twenty-first Massa- 
chusetts \'olunteer Infantry. Phillip trav- 
eled extensively, and being a close observer 
of men and nature was a man of marked 
ability and social qualities, which made his 
companionship desirable. In church and 
politics he was a recognized leader in his 
faith, but he never sacrificed his religious 
principles for his politics, but brought his 
church influence into his political affairs. 
He served several terms in both branches 
of the legislature of his state. Notwith- 
standing his public and busy life, yet so true 
was he to his local church that he was al- 
ways ready to give his time to advance its 
interest. His death occurred some years 
ago. Ambrose is now living in Rutland, 
Vermont. Susan married Henry Decker- 
man, and died in November, 1871, leaving 
two children, one of them, Charles I. Deck- 
erman, being in the ofifice of B. E. Ellwood 
at De Kalb. Edwin B. was also engaged 
in the Civil war, and belonged to the same 
regiment as did his brother Phillips. Eu- 
gene R. was engaged as shipping clerk in 
the establishment of his brothers, Phillips 
and Ambrose, but afterwards became a ho- 
tel keeper in his native town. He is now a 
resident of New Hampshire. Parna mar- 
ried Alexander Cheney, of Orange, Massa- 



chusetts, and died two years later. Mrs. 
Dodge, the remaining member of the family, 
is an educated woman and was a successful 
teacher in the public schools of New Eng- 
land for fourteen years. No woman in De 
Kalb is better known or more highly 
esteemed than Mrs. Dodge for her many 
excellent traits of character. She is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and 
is an active worker in the same. 

Grandmother Blodgett for more than a 
quarter of a century was an inmate of the 
Chase home in \'ermont, and blessed it 
with cheer, anecdote and love. In 1876 
the mother of Mrs. Dodge came to reside 
with her, and continued with her until re- 
moved by death. She never grew^ old and 
ever added to the happiness of the home. 
Sweet and helpful always, old and young 
alike were charmed by her presence. 



ISRAEL ROGERS, a retired farmer re- 
1 siding in Sandwich, Illinois, was born m 
Rensselaer county, New York, April 4, 1818. 
When nineteen years old he moved to 
Oneida county. New York, and four years 
later, in 1841, came west and settled in 
Kendall county where he pre-empted, and 
later purchased a large tract of land. His 
holdings at one time were about eleven hun- 
dred acres, all of which he has disposed of, 
his son owning three hundred and twenty 
acres which comprised his first purchase, 
and which is now very valuable. For some 
years he gave special attention to stock 
raising in addition to his general farm work, 
raising and feeding cattle more especially. 
In iS77heleft the farm, moved to Sand- 
wich, and i)as since made that place his 
home. His father, David Rogers, came 
west somewhat later than our subject, but 



SSO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



also made his home in Kendall county, 
where he operated a small farm. His 
death occurred in November, 1883, while 
lacking a few months of being eighty-eij^Iit 
years old. His wife, Betsy Rogers, who 
was born April 18, 1799, died January 19, 
1866. They were members of the Baptist 
church before their removal to Illinois, but 
on coming here united with the Latter Day- 
Saints. They were the parents of fourteen 
children, of whom our subject was the old- 
est. The others were David K., deceased; 
John A., deceased; A. Judson, now residing 
in Colorado; Mary \'., widow of Ramson 
Partridge, residing in .Sandwich; Silas M., a 
farmer residing in Ford county, Illinois; 
Sarah R., who married a Mr. Chase, both 
now being deceased; Loren D., residing in 
Sandwich; Parmelia J., wife of Aaron Rath- 
bone, residing in Sandwich; Martha Ann, 
who married Elijah Graves, but is now de- 
ceased; Stephen B., residing in Sandwicli; 
Alvina, wife of Robert Hevener, a farmer 
residing in Ford county, Illinois; Jane E., 
wild married 1). .Serene — she is deceased; 
and Daniel H., who resides in Ford county. 
Our subject is a direct descendant of 
John Rogers, who was burned at the stake 
in Smitiifield, Enghmd, on account of his 
religious views, being a reformer as early as 
1535- Mr. Rogers was married February 
24, 1839, to Mahahi Salisbury, and by this 
union there are si.\ children: George W., 
who married Lydia Howard November 2, 
1 86 1, now resides in Independence, Iowa — 
she IS now deceased. Lewis I. married .-Vn- 
nette Lamphere, September 14, 18G2, and 
they reside in Sandwich. Martha L. mar- 
ried Melvin Howard, October 29, 1861, and 
they removed to Iowa where her death oc- 
curred. Mary M. is the wife of James Dar- 
nell, and their marriage ceremony was cele- 



brated December 2, 1868. Harriet A. mar- 
ried Charles Sprague, August 15, 1869. 
Delia A. married Albert Wallace, January 27, 
1875. The mother of these children died 
September 22, 1892, when about sixty-si.\ 
years of age. Mr. Rogers took for his sec- 
ond wife Rachel Trout, their marriage being 
solemnised October 16, 1893. She was the 
widow of George W. Trout. 

Our subject and wife are members of the 
Latter Day Saints church, in which he is a 
presiding elder. He takes very little inter- 
est in politics, voting in an independent 
way. For some years he has acted as ad- 
ministrator of many estates and lias inva- 
riabl)' given satisfaction to all concerned. 



lOHN M. SCHOONMAKER, of Franklin 
*J township, is one of the best known and 
most enterprising farmers of De Kalb coun- 
ty. He was born in the to.vn of Hannibal, 
New York, August 16, 1827, and. is the son 
of John and Julia (Farnham) Schoonmaker, 
the former a native of Flat Bush, Long 
Island, and the latter of Shaftesbury, Ver- 
mont. The paternal grandfather, Martin 
Schoonmaker, was a native of Holland, who 
came to America before Revolutionary 
times and settled at Flat Bush, Long Island. 
From there he moved to Oswego county. 
New '\'ork, and opened up a farm in the 
heav}- timber, and there his death occurred 
at the age of si.\ty-eight years. The mother 
of our subject was a descendant of the Farn- 
hams that came to America in the May- 
flower. She was a daughter of Amasa P'arn- 
liani and was the j^oungest of a family of 
fourteen children, seven boys and seven 
girls. The sons were William, Amasa, 
Reuben, Sanuicj. Solomon, Moulton and 
Nathan. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



55' 



John and lulin Schoonmaker, the par- 
ents o{ our subject, came to De Kalb county 
in June, 1845, ''■^'^'^ settled on a tract of 
eighty acres of government land near the 
present village of Fairdale, Franl<lin town- 
ship. He there engaged in farming, meet- 
ing with fair success, and there continued 
to live during the remainder of his life, dying 
at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife 
died in 1849. They were the parents of 
four children, — Catherine, John iM., Lydia 
M. and Susan. 

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- 
hood and youth in h'S native state, and 
when eighteen years of age accompanied his 
parents to De Kalb county, Illinois, and 
here he has since continued to reside, giving 
his time and attention to general farming. 
When his countr_\' was in sore distress and 
calling loudly for men, in August, 1862, he 
enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and 
Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was 
sworn into the service of the United States 
for three 3'ears or during the war. With his 
regiment he went to Louisville, Kentucky, 
and from that place to the front with the 
main army. He was in the battle of Re- 
saca, Cassville, Georgia, Kenesaw Mountain, 
and from there he was ordered back to Lou- 
isville, Kencucky. On the 28th of [uue, 
1864, while in Louisville he was commis- 
sioned first lieutenant of a companj' of 
United States colored troops, and served 
with that company until he was finally mus- 
tered out of the service. He was in the 
following engagements; Fort Burnham, 
Hatch's Run, and on the 5th of April 
charged the enemy's works at Petersburg. 
He followed Grant's army to Richmond, 
and was with Grant when Lee surrendered 
on the 9th of April, 1865. With his regi- 
ment he was sent to Te.xas to accept the 



surrender of General Ivirby Smith. Not- 
withstanding the war was ended, his regi- 
ment was retained in the service until the 
27th of February, 1866, when it was mus- 
tered out at La \'aca, Texas. He then re- 
turned to his home in De Ivalb county and 
engaged in farming. 

On the 6th of September, 1848, Mr. 
Schoonmaker was united in marriage with 
Miss Nancy Miller, a daughter of John and 
Mary (Crillj Miller, both natives of Herki- 
mer county, New York, and who were the 
parents of twelve children: Thomas, Pol- 
lie, Catherine, |ohn, Daniel, Margaret, 
Betsy, Jonas, Nancy, Henry, Julia A. and 
Chester A. Of these Thomas, Pollie, Cath- 
erine, Daniel and Jonas are deceased. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Schoonmaker four children 
were born: Alice is now the wife of C. F. 
Meyer, of Franklin township; Elnora is 
the wife of B. A. Patten, of .Silver Lake, 
Kansas; George F. resides on the old home 
farm; Dora is the wife of Benjamin Craig, 
of Irene, Boone county, Illinois. 

In January, 1849, Mr. Schoonmaker 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres on 
section 32, Franklin township, and still has 
that land in his possession. He later added 
to the tract, thirty acres of prairie and 
twenty acres of timber land. In 1880, he 
purchased a nice property in Fairdale, 
moved to the village and has since been en- 
gaged in general stock business, until within 
the past three years. He is now living a re- 
tired life. For fifty years he and his wife 
have spent their lives together, and she has 
been to him a helpmeet indeed. On the 
6th of September, 1898, they celebrated 
their golden wedding, with ninety-five of 
their friends and relatives present. While 
in the army she successfully carried on the 
home farm. Both are members of the Meth- 



552 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



odist Episcopal church, in which he has 
served as steward, trustee and class leader. 
In politics he is an out and out Prohibi- 
tionist. 



WILLIAM L ELLWOOD.— Four of 
the greatest factors, ener^'j', enter- 
prise, brains and money, combined to place 
De Kalb in the front ranks of the live-stock 
interests of the United States. While much 
has been said, and rightfully, too, regarding 
her manufacturing enterprises, her live- 
stock interests are equally entitled to hon- 
orable mention. On the outskirts of this 
city is located the home farm and sale sta- 
bles of the world-renowned EUwood Green, 
the fame of which is based upon the fact 
that purchasers could find here animals not 
only of individual merit but of pure blood. 
When entering the field to supply the de- 
mand for first-class carriage and draught 
horses the rejuitation of Mr. Ellwood was 
at stake. He began to import horses from 
France, England and other countries in 
1882, principally the French coach and 
Percheron draught horses. 

One can hardly conceive of the magni- 
tude of this enterprise and the capital in- 
vested in the business. There are four 
thousand acres divided into five farms, all 
under a high state of cultivation and de- 
voted to the raising of the finest stock in 
the world. At all times from seven to nine 
hundred head of horses are kept upon these 
farms, and from three to five hundred head 
of cattle, besides other stock in proportion. 
In addition to his property in De Kalb 
county, Mr. Ellwood owns two hundred and 
eighty thousand acres of land in Mitchell, 
Lamb and Hockley counties, Texas, di- 
vided into ranches, which are fenced and 



cross-fenced for the accommodation of 
twenty thousand head of cattle. The in- 
crease is between four and five thousand per 
annum, and as they mature to two and 
three years they are shipped to Chicago. 
Besides the cattle on these Texas ranches 
there are three hundred Percheron mares 
which have been shipped there, together 
with several pure blood stallions, and their 
offspring is brought to Illinois for develop- 
ment and sale. Mr. Ellwood has charge 
of this mammoth enterprise with a corps of 
assistants under him, but it is so admirably 
systematized that he is equal to the task. 

William L. Ellwood was born in De 
Kalb, November 6, i860, and is a son of 
Isaac L. Ellwood, of whom mention is 
made elsewhere in this work. His educa- 
tion was commenced and finished in his na- 
tive city, having all the advantages of a col- 
lege education by private instructors in his 
father's home. His interest in horse breed- 
ing began at the age of sixteen, since which 
time he has become proficient in the man- 
agement of that noble animal, — man's best 
friend. He keeps a skillful veterinary sur- 
geon and always has a full supply of drugs 
for all cases of sickness to which animals 
are liable. 

In June, 1883, Mr. Ellwood was united 
in n)arriage to Miss Jennie Allen, who was 
born at Shabbona in 1864, a daughter of 
H. A. Allen. Two children have come to 
bless their union : Jean, born in August, 
1885; and Harriet Eliza, in 1887. 



TAMES HOWISON. —Among the many 
*J worthy substantial citizens of Sand- 
wich, none deserved more honorable men- 
tion than the subject of this sketch, who 
was born in the lowlands of Scotland, and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



553 



is the son of George and Margaret (Brown) 
Hovvison. In 1828, when but fourteen 
years of age, he came with his father to the 
United States, that they might look up a 
home. Finding a suitable place in New 
York, they sent for the family, which came 
over the next year. In crossing the ocean, 
our subject was three months cii route, en- 
countering several storms during the time, 
but suffering no special damage. The same 
trip can now be made in si.x days, which is 
an illustration showing the progress made 
in seventy years. After residing in New- 
York some ten years, our subject and his 
younger brother, William, visited what was 
then the far west, and finding the opportuni- 
ties much greater for advancement, thej' re- 
ported their observations to the family, and 
all determined to come west. Leaving 
New York, in the spring of 1839, they came 
by way of the Erie canal and by lake to 
Chicago, which required eight day.s. They 
remained in Chicago but a short time, hav- 
ing no idea of the great city which in time 
was there to be built. The present great 
city was then but a small, insignificant vil- 
lage, but a good market for grain. From 
Chicago they cam^e to the head of Somo- 
nauk creek, where they took up government 
land, and also bought the claim of another 
party of some four hundred acres, paying 
the government price of a dollar and a quar- 
ter an acre. In addition they bought ten 
acres of beautiful timber land, and the first 
winter engaged in getting out rails, stakes, 
posts and wood, all of which were for ser- 
vice on the new farm. With characteristic 
energy they went to work to improve the 
farm, but after residing there two years, the 
father passed to his reward, at the age of 
sixty-four years. His wife survived him 
some years, and died in her eighty-fourth 



year. They were the parents of five chil- 
dren, of whom our subject is the oldest. 
The others were William, a farmer residing 
in Clinton township, De ICalb county, Illi- 
nois; Eli^a, wife of Alexander \Miite, resid- 
ing on a farm near the United Presbyterian 
church in Somonauk township; Alexander, 
residing on the old homestead; and Robert, 
a farmer living near Waterman. Both par- 
ents were devout members of the Presby- 
terian church. 

The subject o( this sketch, as already 
stated, was fourteen years of age when he 
left Scotland. During his ten years resi- 
dence in New York, he worked by the 
month for various parties, and on coming 
to De Kalb county, he assisted in opening 
up the farm, and has since been engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, with the exception of 
the time spent in California. On the iith 
of March, 1850, in company with William 
I^atton, Mr. Hoag, James Blair and James 
^^'alker, he started overland for the New 
Eldorado. Mr. Walker died near the Lone 
Tree, while en route. That tree stands all 
alone, and is now pointed out from the 
Union Pacific railroad train, being the only 
tree within sight for many miles which can 
be seen with the naked eye. He was sick 
but a short time, but suffered very much. 
The other four got through all right to 
\\'eavertown, where the first diggings were 
located. They remained there, however, 
but a short time, and then went to Sacra- 
mento, where they laid in a supply of pro- 
visions, and then went to the diggings on 
Yuba river, where our subject hired out to a 
company for eight dollars per day. He re- 
mained there on the Yuba river during the 
greater part of the time while in California. 
After he had been in that state for two 
years, he was joined by his brother, Alex- 



554 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ander, and the two remained three years 
longer. During two summer seasons our 
subject worked on a ranch, for which he re- 
ceived one hundred and sixty dollars a 
month and board. 

On going to California, Mr. Howison 
crossed the plains with three spans of horses 
and two covered wagons, and while rn i\ iitc 
saw buffalos by the million. This gave him 
a chance to see some of the outlines and 
boundaries of his adopted country, and an 
opportunity to realize what it was in rough- 
ing it while in the far west. With all the 
hardships incident to that primitive kind of 
life, there were afforded many scenes of 
pleasure and romance. When making up 
his mind to return, he chose to return by 
water, taking the Aspinwall line, by way of 
the Isthmus of Panama. The boat on which 
he took passage was shipwrecked by strik- 
ing a rock. The passengers were rescued 
by the John L. Stephens, on which they 
continued their journey, arriving home in 
due time, and again taking up the occupa- 
tion of farming. 

Mr. Howison was married November 12, 
1867, to Miss Mary Jane Kirkpatrick, a 
daughter of Richard and Julia Ann Kirk- 
patrick. and by this union one child was 
born, Charles, a graduate in architecture 
from the State University at Champaign in 
the class of '97. The parents of Mrs. Howi- 
son were natives of Perry county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and were married in 1832. In their 
family were nine children as follows: Isa- 
bella, widow of John Harter, who was killed 
by the cars in Waterman, where she now 
resides. Hannah E. is the wife of Robert 
Howison, and they reside in Waterman. 
Matilda, who married Amos McCaskey, died 
at the age of twenty-three years. Alvina is 
the wife of W. J. Walker, a farmer residing 



in Kansas. Mary Jane is the wife of our 
subject. Julia \. , wife of Robert Walker, 
, resides in Sandwich. Rebecca is the wife 
of John Walker, a farmer residing in Morris 
county, Kansas. Jessie P. died in infancy. 
Isaac F. resides in Harper county, Kansas. 
The father of these children died September 
3, 1871, at the age of seventy-four years; 
the mother was a woman of rare qualities 
of mind and heart, and many in the circle 
of her acquaintance remember her with ten- 
derest recollections. 

In 1879 Mr. Howison moved to Sand- 
wich, where he is now li\-ing a retired life, 
enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He 
and his wife are members of the Presbyte- 
rian church in Sandwich, and in the work 
of the Master have always taken especial 
delight. In politics he has been a Repub- 
lican, but he is quite independent, always 
casting his vote for those he considers best 
qualified for the office. A residence of si.xty 
years in De Kalb county has brought him 
in contact with many of its best citizens, 
and no man is more highly esteemed. 



HON. HIRAM LOUCKS, ex-supervisor 
and member of the legislature, from 
De Kalb county, was born in Schoharie 
county, New York, May 26, 1824, but was 
reared in Madison count}', in the same state. 
His parents were Abram and Elizabeth 
(Ten Eyck) Loucks, both of whom were 
natives of New York. By occupation the 
father was a farmer, one who cared nothing 
for ofSce-holding, but gave his best endea\- 
ors to his farm and farming interest. His 
death occurred at the age of si.xty-nine 
years, while his wife died at the age of se\- 
enty years. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



555 



John Loucks, took part in the Indian war, 
prior to the Revolution. His wife was Re- 
becca Burst, a daughter of Captain Burst, 
who was taken prisoner during the Revolu- 
tionary war, and was returned in the ex- 
change of prisoners. The maternal grand- 
father, John Ten Eyck, married a Miss 
Simons, a daughter of David Simons, who 
was of a noted New York family. 

Abaham Loucks in early life was a 
Lutheran, while his wife was a member of 
the Dutch Reformed church. Later they 
both united with the Presbyterian church, 
in which faith they died. They were the 
parents of eleven children as follows: 
Hiram, the subject of this sketch; Cather- 
ine, who married John Stewart, but is now 
deceased; Eliza, wife of Alexander Stewart, 
a brother of John, resides in Michigan; 
Ellen, who married Scott Duncan, but is 
now deceased; John, who resides on the old 
homestead in New York; Hazelious, who 
also resides on the old homestead; George, 
who resides in New York; Luther, residing in 
Michigan; Henry, who moved to Minnesota, 
where his death occurred; James, who lives 
in New York, and Joseph, of New York. 

Our subject was reared to farm life, and 
followed that occupation in connection with 
lumbering for many years. In 1857, he 
came west, locating in Victor township, De 
Ivalb county, Illinois, where he opened up 
a farm of two hundred acres, which he im- 
proved and which he devoted to dairy, stock 
and grain purposes. 

Mr. Loucks was married, in 1850, to 
Amanda ^'osburg, daughter of Abram Vos- 
burg, a resident of Columbia county. New 
York. By this union were five children, 
(i) Nelson, who resides on a farm in O'Brien 
county, Iowa, married Ida Wells, of Sand- 
wich, and their children are Gertie, Celia, 

28 



Mary, Hiram and John. (2) Emogene mar- 
ried William Ray, and they reside in Shab- 
bona, Illinois. They have one child, Eliza- 
beth. (3) Anna, married Henry Severy, 
and they have one child, Frank. (4; James 
married Miss Wells, and they reside on a 
farm in O'Brien county, Iowa. (5) Henry, 
who resides on the old homestead, married 
Lillie Ouillhot, and their children are lone 
and Helen. The mother of these children, 
who was a consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, died at the 
age of thirty-nine years. Mr. Loucks was 
married, July 29, 1876, to Mrs. Anna M. 
Smith, widow of Capt. Henry L. Smith. 
She is the daughter of Rev. Israel and So- 
phronia (Mills) Shailer, her father being a 
minister of the Presbyterian church for 
many years in Ohio. 

In politics Mr. Loucks is independent, 
though for many years he was a decided 
Republican. The first office that he ever 
held was that of school director and he 
served in that official position for fifteen 
years. He was commissioner of highways 
for seven years, and while residing in Victor 
township served as a member of the board 
of supervisors for eight years, and since his 
removal to Sandwich has served in the 
same office for nine years. He was elected 
a member of the legislature in 1881, re- 
elected in 1883, and served two sessions, 
taking a general interest in all questions be- 
fore that body and being a valuable mem- 
ber. In 1883 he removed to Sandwich 
since which time he has been living practi- 
cally a retired life. He is a man of deep 
convictions and positive in his views, which 
he voices with readiness. In his ofBcial 
positions, he gave a high degree of satisfac- 
tion as is evidenced in his re-election for a 
term of years to the same office. He has 



556 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



been a successful man and is justly entitled to 
the respect which he enjoys as an honored, 
substantial and worthy citizen. 



FRANK C. PATTEN, owner and man- 
ager of the Frank C. Patten Co., has 
had an unusually successful business career, 
showing industry and executive ability. He 
was born on a farm in Afton township, De 
Kalb county, Illinois, on October lo, 1867. 

His father, Sylvester W. Patten, was 
born in Herkimer county. New York, in 1 837, 
and spent his boyhood days in his native 
state, where he obtained his primary edu- 
tion in district schools. In 1850 his parents 
came to Illinois, and located in Boone 
county, where they remained a year or two 
and then came to De Kalb county, locating 
in South Grove township. Sylvester W. 
assisted his father in farming operations 
during summers, teaching school during 
the winter months until his marriage near 
Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, May 
I, i860, with Miss Elizabeth C. Coffin, a 
native of Delaware county. New York, born 
in 1839, and who came west with her par- 
ents, locating near Belvidere in 1845. She 
was a daughter of Jacob and Mary Anne 
(Hull) Coffin. Her paternal great-grand- 
father, John Coffin, was born in 1753 and 
married Mary Van. Tassel, of German de- 
scent, born in 1743. Their son, Isaac 
Coffin, was the father of Jacob, who was 
born in 1773. 

The Coffin family were originally of Nor- 
man stock. The first to come to America 
was Tristam, who came with eight sons in 
1642 and settled in Massachusetts near Hav- 
erhill. Tristam Coffin and others bought 
Nantucket Island. His eldest son settled 
near Albany and from him sprang John 



Coffin, great-grandfather of Mrs. Sylvester 
W. Patten. 

After his marriage S}'lvester \V. Patten 
bought a farm eight miles south of De Kalb 
and there resided until 1882, when he sold 
out and purchased another farm two miles 
northwest of De Kalb. On that farm he 
resided until 1892, when he remo\ed to the 
city of De Kalb, where he has since contin- 
ued to reside, — now having charge of the 
Hinckley Brick & Tile Yards, one of the 
plants belonging to Patten Bros. Tile Co. 

To Sylvester W. and Elizabeth C. Pat- 
ten were born six children,— Mary L., a 
successful teacher in De Kalb ; Emma L. , the 
wife of Frank Greeley, of Waterman, Illi- 
nois; Frank C, the subject of this sketch; 
Edith S., a teacher in the public schools of 
Austin, Illinois; .\lice C, teacher in the 
Bloomington High School; and Elizabeth 
M., a student in the State Normal School. 

After attending liistrict schools, Frank 
C. Patten entered the high school in De 
Kalb, from which he graduated in 1885. 
Immediatel}' after graduating he entered the 
employ of \\'m. Deering Co., of Chicago, 
remaining with this firm about one year. 
Desiring to go into business for himself, he 
returned to DeKalb, and starting a small 
shop began manufacturing sundries in a lim- 
ited way. Owing to increase in business in 
1887 he purchased a building and employed 
several hands to assist him. He pushed 
the business to such an extent that soon his 
building covered three and a half lots in the 
city and in 1891 had spread out over the en- 
tire block. 

In addition to his manufacturing busi- 
ness, in 1889 Mr. Patten began contracting 
and building, — purchasing vacant property, 
subdividing and building. He built on his 
own account between seventy-five and a 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



557 



hundred houses and on contract for others 
twice as many more. Few men of his age 
have ever undertaken and carried through 
to success such a work. Before twenty-five 
years of age he had erected more than two 
hundred and twenty-five buildings, while at 
the same time conducting his regular manu- 
facturing business. In addition to residence 
work, he built school buildings at DeKalb, 
Maple Park, Elburn and Crossdale, employ- 
ing draughtsmen, masons, carpenters, tin- 
ners, plumbers, painters, and paper hangers 
as well as laborers, — the combined pay roll 
of industries under his ownership going as 
high as three hundred and fifty men per day. 

About this time Mr. Patten organized a 
tile company, which purchased and virtual!}' 
re-built two large plants. These after a 
prosperous business career were disposed of 
to their present owners, the Patten Bros. 
Tile Co. 

In 1893 hfi came to Sjcamore and pur- 
chased the Marsh Harvester, and also the 
entire plant formerly owned by the R. Ell- 
wood Manufacturing Co., — business at this 
point being conducted under the name of 
the Frank C. Patten Co. This concern 
manufactures a general line of agricultural 
implements, well drilling machinery and 
gray iron casting, catering especially to 
heavy bu3'ers, who have goods furnished 
under contract for their own trade. 

Mr. Patten was married at the home of 
his bride's parents on a farm near Syca- 
more, to Miss Carrie C. Crane, a daughter 
of Frederick S. and Mary Anne (Bristol) 
Crane, — the latter a native of Genesee 
county, New York, and a daughter of Hiram 
and Sarah (Spink) Bristol. Frederick S. 
Crane was born in Wayne county, New 
York, in 1833, and came with his parents to 
Illinois in 1835. Here he grew to manhood 



and in 1853 crossed the plains to California. 
On returning home, he purchased a farm 
near Naperville, where he resided until 
1869, when, coming to DeKalb county, he 
purchased a farm of four hundred acres in 
Courtland township. This he sold in 1895, 
removing to Los Angeles, California. 

Frederick S. Crane is the son of David 
and Catherine W. (Stolp) Crane, the latter 
a daughter of Frederick and jeanette 
(Pepper) Stolp,- -Frederick being a soldier 
in the war of 181 2. Both families are of 
Holland descent. The paternal grand- 
parents were Zebina and Hannah (Gould) 
Crane. 



HIRAM C. WILSON, now living a re- 
tired life in the \ illage of Kirkland, is 
a native of Calhoun county, Michigan, born 
No\ember 29, 1838, and is the son of Roger 
and Mary (Burdick) Wilson, the former a 
native of Yorkshire, England, and the latter 
of Cayuga county. New York. They were 
the parents of two children, Hiram C. and 
Elizabeth. The paternal grandfather, 
Thomas Wilson, was a native of Yorkshire, 
England, who came to America in 1810. 
and settled in Cayuga county. New York. 
By trade he was a shoemaker, an occupa- 
tion which he followed during many years 
of his life. From Cayuga county, New- 
York, Roger Wilson moved to Calhoun 
county. Michigan, in 1836, where he pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres of gov- 
ernment land, all of which was heavily tim- 
bered. He cleared up a farm, and kept 
adding to his possessions, until he had over 
five hundred acres, the greater part of 
which was under cultivation. He sold out 
in 1863, and came to De Kalb county, and 
purchased, with his son, a farm of three 



;ss 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



hundred and twenty acres on section i .South 
Grove township. 

Tlie subject of tliis sketch was reared in 
Calhoun county, Michigan, and in the dis- 
trict schools received his primary education, 
after which he entered the college at Battle 
Creek, Michigan, which he attended for two 
terms. On the fith of October, i860, he 
married Stella M. Foster, a native of St. 
Lawrence county, New York, and a daugh- 
ter of Dr. James and Susan Foster, also 
natives of the same county and state, who 
at an early day moved to Calhoun county, 
Michigan, and in 1882, to De Kalb count\\ 
Illinois. Ide read medicine in Albany, New 
York, where he was admitted to practice. 
For about forty-five j-ears he practiced his 
profession in Michigan. On coming to De 
Kalb county, he made his home with our 
subject, where his death occurred in 1883, 
at the age of eighty-two years and si.\ 
months. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson si.\ chil- 
dren have been born, as follows: Warren, 
Alice, Susie, Joy, Ira and Mabel. 

In 1882, Mr. Wilson moved with his 
family, after selling his farm in South Grove 
township, and located in Kingston town- 
ship, where he yet has a farm of two hun- 
dred and thirty-two acres of well improved 
land. After remaining upon that farm for 
man\' years, he rented the place and moved 
to the village of Kirkland, where he has 
nice residence property. In politics he is a 
Democrat, and has held various local offices, 
including that of school director. He is 
well respected and has many friends in De 
Kalb count}'. 



CHARLES A. SCHNEIDER, who is 
engaged in the insurance business at 
Sandwich, is a well known citizen of Ger- 



man birth. He was born in Anhalt, Des- 
sau, (ierman)-, December 11. 1825, and is 
the son of Christopher and NN'ilhelmina 
fSchuman) Schneider, wlui nex'er came to 
America, but spent their entire lives in their 
nati\e land, the father dying at the age of 
seventy-three years, and the mother at the 
age of seventy-five years. They were mem- 
bers of the Evangelical ciiurch, and were 
the parents of three children, of whom our 
subject was the oldest and the only one 
to come to America. August died in Sax- 
ony, after having served his time as a sol- 
dier in the German aruiy. Wilhelniina is 
the widow of Carl Seeger, and is yet re- 
siding in Germany, alihough she has a son, 
Carl Seeger, residing in Sandwich. 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
in his native land and educated in its pub- 
lic schools. While liable for military duty 
in 1846, he was never called out for the 
reason there were no wars then in progress. 
In his youth he learned the tinner's trade, 
which occupation he followed in his native 
land, until he came to America in 1854. 
On arriving in this country he engaged as a 
deck hand on a vessel on Lake Superior, at 
the south end of St. Mary's canal, where 
he handled a wheelbarrow for two weeks; 
but not liking that kind of work, abandoned 
it and coming west to Chicago again en- 
gaged in work at his trade. He continued 
in Chicago for three years. Having a friend 
in Sandwich, Mr. Kleinschmidt, he came 
with him to that place and worked at his 
trade until 1884, when he engaged exclu- 
sively in the insurance business with which 
he has since been connected. He now rep- 
resents eight different companies, among 
them being some of the best in the United 
States. 

In 1 86 1 Mr. Schneider returned to Ger- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



559 



many on a visit, and in 1864 married Sophia 
Beaiman, a daughter of Stuart and Sophia 
Beahnan. The latter died in Chicago at 
the age of sixty-nine years. By this union 
were born four children: Charles married 
Olivia Unger, and they now reside in Oma- 
ha, where he is engaged in the railway 
freight office of the Northwestern Railroad. 
Powell married Anna Bernard, and they 
reside in Sandwich. Mary is the wife of J. 
W. Arnold, and they also reside in Sand- 
wich. Anna is the housekeeper for her fa- 
ther, her mother having died December, 
1893, at the age of fifty-four years and four 
months. She was a devout member of the 
German Evangelical church, of which body 
her husband and family are also members. 
When Mr. Schneider first came to the 
United States he took passage in a sailing 



vessel and was forty-six days on the water. 
For a time they met with heavy weather, 
and later it was so calm that their vessel 
would hardly move. This all regarded as 
worse than the heavy weather. On return- 
ing to the old country on his visit it did not 
require much time for him to make up his 
mind that the United States was a better 
place for a man of industry and enterprise, 
than the land of his birth. Since coming 
here he has been fairly successful in business, 
and has never regretted the step taken. He 
takes little interest in politics, preferring to 
give his attention to his business interests. 
In his various relations in public and private 
life he has always been the same earnest, 
upright, capable and courteous gentleman,- 
winning the confidence and esteem of a large 
circle of friends. 



A 



/ 



/ 









"^ 



liMDEX:. 



Abel,. Ezra 419 

Allison, Arthur 372 

Ames, John S 898 

Anderson, M. P 22 

ArmstrunEC, S. T ;«9 

Arnold, lohn 530 

Arnold, John \V 501 

Atherton, Benjamin F 51 

Atherton, William iVI 134 

Aurner, Leonard 140 

Aurner, J, B 183 

Banks, James 497 

Barber, Clark L 290 

Beaubien, Soliston 69 

Bern is, Brigham P 350 

Benson, Charles P 469 

Bend, Lewis 517 

Bently, George D 41 

Berg, Theodore O 127 

Bettis, Professor F. B 40 

Bet/., John 402 

Bishop, Judge Charles A 4(; 

Black, Daniel 81 

Blake, James 521 

Blair, John M 500 

Blair, William 136 

Bianchtield, Richard \V 523 

Blee, lohn W 486 

Bliss, Major F 499 

Boardman, Hon. Henry M . . . . 177 

Boies, Edward 1 81 

Boston, Robert 197 

Boynton, Charles O 44 

Bradburv, Alfred 171 

Bradt, Charles E 271 

Branch, Hiram F 420 

Brock, Patrick 48 

Brown S: Brown 266 

Brown, Charles 64 

Brown, D. D 382 

Browne, Lester | 397 

Buehl, William A 107 

Burnham, Alvin P 474 

liurst, Edward M 150 

Burst, Major John W 471 

Byers, William M 118 

Byro, Ed ward 445 

Campbell, Jabez 469 

Campbell, Silas R 329 

Carnes, Duane J 98 

Carroll, John .523 

Carter, Orando 115 

Cary, H. O..-. 24 

Chapman, Mrs. Sarah 94 

Clapsaddle, George H 304 

Clapsaddle, Henry 191 

Clark, George 341 

Clark, Joel W 275 

Clark, Winfield S 198 



Clarke, Alfred L 435 

Cliffe, Thomas M 74 

Cole, Marcus W 88 

Coleman, Hector H 207 

Coles, Francis M 468 

Cooper, T. W 60 

Corkings, Thomas S 319 

Cornwall, Thomas .")28 

Corson, |ohn R 450 

Cory, David N 198 

Coster, Alpha J 483 

Coster, Joseph C 86 

Court, Alexander R 147 

Crawford, Carl B 861 

Crocker, Rev. A. A 886 

Crofoot, Dwight K 519 

Crosby, Charles H 252 

Curtis, Elijah 52 

I )ale, Thomas S 213 

Darnell, Enoch 531 

David, Dr. |ohn C 483 

Davis, Edw-ard C 518 

L^avie, Charles 416 

Davy, John G 159 

Dean, Myron M 3'.i2 

Decker, Warren . , 807 

Delana, Edward M 278 

Dennis, Gurdon H 405 

Dennis, William A 5."W 

Divine, Eleazer 417 

Divine, Richard L .MO 

Doane, A. Charles 2(i8 

Doane, Charles E 2.53 

Dodge, Lucian 199 

Dodge, Martin 547 

Donnelly, Eugene () 329 

Downer, Asher 204 

Driscoll, 'Theodore D 437 

Duffev, Robert 85 

Duncan, Dr. J. C 155 

Dunton, George W 222 

Dustin, General Daniel 9 

Dutton, General E. F 229 

F'.ames, Lewis 145 

Ellwood, .-^bram 236 

Ellwood, L L 26 

Ellwood, J. E .533 

Ellwood, Hon. Reuben .537 

Ellwood, W. L .5.52 

Euhus, Henry 394 

Evans, Ira .351 

Evans, L. Dow 348 

Faltz, C. W .509 

Fay, Herbert W 92 

Fay, Wells A 189 

Flewellin, Edwin L 493 

Foiles, C. H 61 

Forward, Walter M 298 



Foster, Captain Joseph W 170 

Frykman. Rev. Magnus 179 

Fuller, William B('> 

Gammon, Frank E 212 

Gardiner, Edward P 192 

Garner, Charles W 210 

Gibbs, David M 294 

Gibson, John S 428 

Gilkerson, Hiram 4.J6 

Ciilson, Edwin 14 

Givens, Jacob ,S82 

Gleason, L. E .538 

Glidden, Joseph F 800 

Goble, W. Mott 181 

Goff, William 809 

Grange, Rev. W. S 362 

Graves, Abraham D 831 

Gray, John 481 

Green, John 235 

Gross, Lewis M H6 

Curler, Henry B 826 

Hadsall, John 4u4 

Haish, Jacob 56 

Hait, Edwin 288 

Hallett, James 480 

Hammond, Forrest R 258 

Hampton, Hon. Robert 82 

Hill, N.J 541 

Hampton, R. F 220 

Hanrahan, M 74 

Harmon, James Henry 498 

Harper, Orlando 167 

Harrington, James E 211 

Harvey, L. P 477 

Haskins, Horace 320 

Helson, John .359 

Hill, John N 414 

Hill, N. I -AX 

Hill, Ole' X 440 

Hills, Frank E 475 

Hix, Lewis P f. 1(7 

Hodge, Levi S 884 

Hohm, Daniel 201 

Holcomb, R. J 335 

Holland, 'Thomas 21 

Holiembeak, Aramont X 364 

Holmes, Charles S 168 

Holmes, G. R 71 

Hopkins, H. H 1,54 

Hopkins, Thomas M 1.58 

Houck, Ralph A 442 

Howison, Alexander 516 

Howison. lames .5.52 

Hovt, William 511 

Hubbard, Charles .A. 72 

Hubbard, Warren .502 

Hubbard, William 2.58 

H ueber, George E 515 

Hueber, Gottlieb F 224 



562 



INDEX. 



Ingmanson. Jonas 374 

Jackman, Kendall 318 

Jessen, Kdwin — 101 

Johnson, John 180 

Johnson, John I) 95 

Jones, Harvey A 118 

Jones, Richard F . .• 4r>(; 

Keene, W. H 'J8S) 

Kellogg, A. R 81 

Kellogg, Nathaniel S 849 

Kelluni, Hon. Charles l(i 

Kennedy, A. G 398 

King, Alfred 39.") 

King, John 2ol 

King, William L Mti.'f 

Kinsloe, Capt. A. S 242 

Kittelson, Halvor 471 

Kline, Henrv 385 

Koch, Henry 403 

Labrant, William 202 

La Bolle, John B 514 

Lake, Myron E 429 

Lane, James 208 

La Porte, Frank A 203 

Larson, John H 287 

Lawrence, John 254 

Ledovt, K.dwanl F 490 

Leifheit. Adolph 20 

Leishman, James 218 

Leonard, Patrick 531 

Lewis, George G 30 

Little, James L 432 

I.ossman, Herman G 283 

l.oucks, Hiram 5.54 

Lovell, .Andrew 441 

Lowell, Hon. Luther 388 

Lowman, Frank D 541 

Lucas, Dr. George N 139 

McClelland. John I)..... 288 

.McGirr, Dennis 455 

McGirr, Patrick A 14(> 

McGirr, John 24(i 

McGuire, Francis W 299 

McMurchv, .Malcolm 284 

McQueen,' Hugh 492 

Mackey, Harrison 2(i(i 

Maitland, James 407 

.Mason, Horatio H 182 

Mason, William H 418 

Marshall, John 438 

M aurer, George J 340 

Merrill, Orville H (i2 

Merrit, Grrin 357 

Miller, John 261 

Miller, Peter 251 

Miller, Dr. William T 493 

Montague, G. \V .544 

Moon, 'William R 297 

Moore, lames H 354 

Mordoff, Dr. Charles H 260 

Morrison, John 513 

Mowers, Aaron 361 

Mullen, Harker 84 

Mullins, John 33 



Xesbitt, Dr. George W 457 

Newitt, Robert 25 

Nisbet, fames 470 

Noble, Ezekiel 446 

Norton, Orrin M 219 

Ohlmacher, Christian 1 316 

Oleson, J. O ■ (il 

Ginistead, George 2-53 

( )rinit, James M 284 

Osborn, Henry 520 

Ott, John 76 

Parke, Captain A. F 108 

Parker, J. E 375 

Parker, Thomas . 49() 

I'artridge, General F. W 172 

Patten, Frank C 556 

Perkins, Henry N 244 

Peterson, Samuel 240 

Phelps, Edgar M 352 

Pierce, Austin \' 408 

Pierce, Daniel 36 

Plapp, Philip F 352 

Pond, A. H 440 

Pond, Charles C 272 

Pond, Judge William 1 194 

Poplin, Jesse F 524 

Post. .Alva F 459 

Poulson, Peter 477 

Powell, James T 495 

Power.s, Edward \i 240 

Powers, John 1.58 

Proctor, Richard B 264 

Qui-jley, Robert 532 

Quilhot, Peter \' 104 

Quist, .Samuel 277 

Ramer,Captain .\nthonv 22 

Ranter, Peter '. 358 

Ray, .Alexander 84 

Redmond, J. P 431 

Renwick, Thoma.s 246 

Richards, Nathan S , r 298 

Roberts, lohn D 487 

Robertson, Rev. G. H 542 

Robinson, Fred T. . . .' 427 

Robinson, Hon. (!^orge S 13 

Robin.son, Lorenzo 461 

Robinson, William H 165 

Rogers, Israel .549 

Rosette, Bailey 315 

Rowen, Gurden C 308 

Rowley, Albert F 12 

Rowley, Enoch P 505 

Salisbury, Charles H 296 

.Sanderson, Samuel M 103 

.Schneider, Charles .\ 558 

.Schoonmaker, John M .550 

Schuyler, Dr. C 113 

Scott, Frank R.... 506 

Sebree, W. Marshall 425 

.Sedgwick, W. W 452 

Shaffer, L. C 526 

Shafter, Caiit. lames N 3l0 

Shipman, .M. D 262 

Shoop, John F 2'8 

Sisley, George E 265 



Si V Wright, Nelson 330 

Skmner. James M 503 

Slater, Henry H 372 

Slater, Philo'F 34 

Smith, Edwin P 137 

Smith, Rev. W. H 274 

Stanley. George H 285 

Stark, Marshall 401 

.Stephens, Samuel 415 

Stiles, Samuel H 342 

Storey, Septimus 148 

Stott.J. E 396 

Taylor, George L 416 

Thomas, W. H 449 

Tischhouser, John 370 

Townsend, .Amos W 160 

Townsend, Edwin 313 

Townsend, Hon. F. B 214 

Truby, Nathaniel G 306 

Uplinger, Benjamin F 190 

Uplinger, John H 217 

Wan Galder, Frank O 70 

\'an Horn, Mrs. Anna 65 

\on Ohlen, William 42 

\'an W'ert, Capt. William 376 

V'osburgh, William .526 

Walker, John 146 

Wallace, A. 1) .546 

Walrad, Joseph O 209 

Warren, Norman C 332 

Watson, John 488 

Watson, Lincoln 516 

Watson, William 392 

Wayland, Dr. Joseph P 54 

Weber, Nicholas 527 

Weddell, Charles V 406 

Weddell, William B 337 

Weeden, Warren 545 

Welch, George W 414 

White, A.Gates 535 

White, Charles H 507 

White, George 522 

Whiteman, Israel R 102 

Whitmori'. Henry O 448 

Whitiemore, Henry C 156 

Wilder, Dr. C. H 143 

Willey, Morris 128 

Wilkinson, Ralph N 413 

Willis, Robert 529 

Willrett, C. G 447 

Wilson, Hiram C 557 

Winders, Thomas 1 106 

Winslow, Peleg S." 116 

Witter, William 316 

Wood, George 137 

Woodbury, John H 95 

Woodbury, W. W 480 

Woods, Isaac S 50 

Worf. Henry .* 276 

Wright, Thomas J 491 

Wright, W. H 476 

Wylde, William W 234 

W'yman, Hon. B. F 479 

Younggren, -A. Rudoliih 221 



Uf:9 



